How to get the most out of your first meeting with your family solicitor – preparation is key
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We know that taking that first step to meet with a family solicitor can feel daunting and you may not know what to expect. Whilst some nerves are completely normal, we hope this article will provide some practical tips for feeling as prepared as possible and help you and your solicitor get the most out of the meeting.
Before the meeting
We will send you information about our fees and what we need from you before the meeting to ensure that we can proceed. This will usually include your ex-partner’s full name to run a conflict of interest check and your photographic ID and proof of address.
At BBS Law, we can facilitate the meeting either at our offices in Finchley Central or as an online meeting over Teams.
You may find it eases your nerves to look up how to get to our offices, including parking arrangements or public transport routes. BBS Law in London is just a 5 minute walk from Finchley Central on the Northern Line and close to many bus routes.
If you will be having the meeting online, make arrangements to ensure that you will be in a quiet and private space for the meeting and on the day make sure you log in in good time before to check all is working with your tech.
Documents to have to hand
For all types of case, if there are existing court proceedings, we will need to review any applications and orders made.
If you are seeking advice regarding a divorce, you will need to provide the marriage certificate. If you do not have a copy of this and you married in England, you can obtain a copy here
If we advise on financial matters, we will need to know about your assets and your ex-partner’s assets. These can include:
Property
Bank accounts
Investments
Businesses
Liabilities
Income
Pensions
The financial information should cover all assets wherever they may be in the world, not just those in England.
If you have paperwork that you may think is relevant, you can bring this with you to the meeting and your solicitor can advise accordingly. If you cannot get the paperwork together before the meeting, don’t worry, try to put together a list of what there is and the approximate value if you know this.
If we are advising on children matters, please bring a copy of any parenting plan or court order with you to the meeting.
At the meeting
We will do our best to make you feel comfortable and supported throughout. It is not only a chance for us to get to know about your situation and work out how best we can help you, but a chance for you to get to know us.
The meeting with your solicitor will usually be one hour but may need to be longer depending on the complexity.
If you would like a trusted family member or friend to attend with you to take notes or as a support, please let your solicitor know beforehand.
In the meeting, your solicitor will need to quickly get a grasp of the key information and history so it may be helpful either to think this through or write out a timeline of the key events so that you do not forget anything in the meeting.
You may also find it helpful to write down specific questions you would like answered, again so you do not forget these.
Some people also find it helpful to bring a notepad or laptop with them to make notes of what has been discussed and any action points.
Please do get in touch if you require any assistance with your family matter and we would be happy to assist you.
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