Your lawyer will ask you to explain your situation and the family law issues you wish to resolve ie the reasons for the breakdown of your relationship. S/he will inform you of your legal rights, explain what options are available to you to resolve your dispute, discuss any concerns you have surrounding your family law matter and propose a plan for the next steps. We will also discuss anticipated legal costs with you. There is no obligation to proceed with engaging the lawyer after your initial consultation.

It is beneficial to you and your lawyer if you come to the initial meeting prepared with as much information as you can. This includes:

• A summary of key dates such as dates of birth, date of marriage, date you started living with together, date of separation, the names and dates of birth of your children, and dates when key assets were acquired and/or sold.
• If the issue relates to a financial settlement:
  • Details of the assets, liabilities and superannuation, that currently exist and how they are owned.
  • Bank account details and current balances.
  • All known sources of income that are available between you and your former partner, and a list of the regular household expenses.
• Where the issues relate to children and parenting, documents such as recent school reports, and medical information (if relevant).
• A list of questions you wish to ask.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this information or you are unsure about what to ask. Our lawyers are skilled in knowing what you need to know, even if you don’t ask.

To assist you will be provided with a New Client Instruction Sheet to complete prior to the meeting.