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Difference between revisions of "How Do I Prepare for My First Meeting with a Lawyer?"
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How Do I Prepare for My First Meeting with a Lawyer? (view source)
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==Information== | ==Information== | ||
The lawyer will need to know certain basic facts about you and your relationship, particularly if there is a chance the lawyer will be starting a court proceeding on your behlaf, so make sure you either have them at the tips of your fingers or have them written down: | The lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> need to know certain basic facts about you and your relationship, particularly if there is a chance the lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> be starting a court proceeding on your behlaf, so make sure you either have them at the tips of your fingers or have them written down: | ||
#your address, occupation, annual income and date of birth; | #your address, occupation, annual income and date of birth; | ||
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#the basic reasons why your relationship came to an end. | #the basic reasons why your relationship came to an end. | ||
Don't worry if you don't have all this information available right away. There is almost always time to collect this information afterwards, and the lawyer you meet will most likely have a list of other information that you'll have to gather in any event. | Don't worry if you don't have all this information available right away. There is almost always time to collect this information afterwards, and the lawyer you meet <span class="noglossary">will</span> most likely have a list of other information that you'll have to gather in any event. | ||
==Documents== | ==Documents== | ||
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You really only need to worry about documents if you're already in the middle of a court proceeding or negotiations between you and your ex have started. | You really only need to worry about documents if you're already in the middle of a court proceeding or negotiations between you and your ex have started. | ||
If litigation is under way, the lawyer will want to see all the legal documents (also called "pleadings") that have been produced thus far. If you can't truck the whole file down to the lawyer's office, at least make sure you bring: | If litigation is under way, the lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to see all the legal documents (also called "pleadings") that have been produced thus far. If you can't truck the whole file down to the lawyer's office, at least make sure you bring: | ||
''Supreme Court'' | ''Supreme Court'' | ||
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#if you're seeing the lawyer about an interim application, a copy of the Notice of Motion. | #if you're seeing the lawyer about an interim application, a copy of the Notice of Motion. | ||
If you're in the midst of negotiations, you will want to bring: | If you're in the midst of negotiations, you <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to bring: | ||
#a copy of any offers made so far; and, | #a copy of any offers made so far; and, | ||
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==Payment== | ==Payment== | ||
Before you even darken the lawyer's door, make sure you know whether or not the lawyer is going to be charging for your first appointment. Some lawyers offer an initial consultation for free; if so, they will usually advertise that first meetings are free. Other lawyers will offer an initial consultation for a reduced fee. Still other lawyers charge for initial meetings at their usual hourly rate. Do not assume that there will be no charge for your initial appointment; if you must make an assumption, assume that the lawyer will be charging you at the lawyer's normal hourly rate. | Before you even darken the lawyer's door, make sure you know whether or not the lawyer is going to be charging for your first appointment. Some lawyers offer an initial consultation for free; if so, they <span class="noglossary">will</span> usually advertise that first meetings are free. Other lawyers <span class="noglossary">will</span> offer an initial consultation for a reduced fee. Still other lawyers charge for initial meetings at their usual hourly rate. Do not assume that there <span class="noglossary">will</span> be no charge for your initial appointment; if you must make an assumption, assume that the lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> be charging you at the lawyer's normal hourly rate. | ||
If the lawyer is going to be charging for your first visit, he or she will usually expect payment once the meeting is done. All lawyers will take cash and cheques, and many will also take credit cards. Make sure you are able to pay for your first meeting when you book it. | If the lawyer is going to be charging for your first visit, he or she <span class="noglossary">will</span> usually expect payment once the meeting is done. All lawyers <span class="noglossary">will</span> take cash and cheques, and many <span class="noglossary">will</span> also take credit cards. Make sure you are able to pay for your first meeting when you book it. | ||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], March 24, 2013}} | |||
{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}} | {{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}} | ||
[[Category:How Do I? | |||
{{Creative Commons | |||
|title = JP Boyd on Family Law | |||
|author = [[JP Boyd|John-Paul Boyd]] and Courthouse Libraries BC | |||
}} | |||
[[Category:How Do I?|P]] | |||
