It is highly recommended that you consult a lawyer for the following reasons:

1. Issues of property division and child custody can be daunting areas of law to understand. A lawyer can advise you on your rights and options, including estimated cost and timeframe.
2. Legal matters can become very complex particularly in relation to the service of documents on your spouse/civil union partner, for example where that person is overseas or their location is unknown.
3. There are a significant number of forms which need to be filled out and filed in court throughout the legal process; lawyers have the skills to complete this process much faster than the average person, making the whole experience easier and less stressful for you. This will also reduce the risk of mistakes being made, causing undue cost and delay.

Questions to ask

It may be a good idea to have a mental or written checklist of questions to ask the lawyer at a first meeting. You should bring paper and pencil or pen with which to take notes. Here is a list of questions that are useful when you hire a lawyer. Add to this list any questions that are specific to your circumstances.

1. Who will work on my case?
2. What is the training and experience of the lawyers who will be working on my case?
3. How many cases like mine has your firm handled in the past year?
4. What are your average fees in cases like mine? What do you think my case is going to cost?
5. How do you set your fees? What does the fee include? Is the actual divorce included in the fee?
6. What are your policies with regard to: payment of fees, returning phone calls, providing copies of all correspondence and other documents, keeping me informed about the progress of my case?
7. How long will I wait to get an appointment when I need to come in again? What hours are you available on the telephone and in the office?
8. Are my goals realistic? What problems can you foresee? How will we solve those problems?
9. How will you help me to accomplish my goals? How long will it all take?
10. How often do you go to court? Do you prefer litigating a case or settling the case?

Based on the answers you receive, you should be able to gage whether the lawyer is right for you. The legal process can be overwhelming; if the lawyer has done their job and is the right one for you, you will likely feel relieved and a lot more informed after the meeting. If this is not the case, then continue to search for a better fit until you strike the right balance. How can we help? Please call us to arrange an appointment. In our first meeting with you, we will explain the law, your options and the outcome you can reasonably expect. We will also advise a fixed fee for your case and the likely time it will take to settle. We can accept instructions through a solicitor to help you. If you do not have a solicitor, we can help you with that. You can contact us by phone on (09) 309 4647.

"The information posted on this website is prepared for a general audience, without investigation into the facts of any particular case. This information is no substitute for legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship; you are advised to consult with a lawyer on any legal issue."