Spouses in New Jersey may benefit from understanding more about what to except with the initial consultation concerning a divorce. Gathering information and performing sufficient due diligence beforehand may be the most effective strategy for forming more accurate expectations. Before the initial consultation, staff at the law firm will perform a conflict check, an assessment used to identify any criteria that would prevent legal counsel from working for a particular client.
The initial consultation is the opportunity for a spouse to explain the particulars of their circumstances while a divorce lawyer listens and takes notes on the pertinent details. Legal counsel usually has follow-up questions to help ensure all the points of interest have been addressed. Lawyers typically ask for an extensive account of each spouse’s personal, employment and financial information including a list of assets and liabilities. Determining whether there are any prenuptial agreements or premarital assets may also be significant.
Lawyers should be prepared to discuss the potential issues that could arise, including those pertaining to asset division or formulating a parenting plan. Legal counsel may also divulge whether or not they believe testimony from an expert witness would be advantageous. Lawyers may also be prepared to discuss whether any form of alternative dispute resolution could help alleviate some of the issues created by the divorce. The pros, cons and financial arrangements involved with traditional litigation should also be discussed during the consultation.
Spouses contemplating a divorce typically benefit from consulting legal counsel. A divorce lawyer may be prepared to review the situation and help provide guidance on how to move forward. Often, legal counsel is able to reduce the contentiousness and stress associated with a divorce proceeding by heading the negotiations on asset division, support payments and the parenting plan.