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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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*the date each of you began living in British Columbia, | *the date each of you began living in British Columbia, | ||
*the date the two of you started to live together, | *the date the two of you started to live together, | ||
*if you're married, the date of your marriage and the name of the city or town you got married | *if you're married, the date of your marriage and the name of the city or town where you got married, | ||
*the date of your separation, if you're separated, | *the date of your separation, if you're separated, | ||
*the full names and birthdates of any children, | *the full names and birthdates of any children, | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
*the full details about any personal and family debts, | *the full details about any personal and family debts, | ||
*basic information about any stock or bond portfolios, | *basic information about any stock or bond portfolios, | ||
*whether either of you | *whether either of you has a pension and, if so, the name of the pension plan, | ||
*the addresses of any real <span class="noglossary">estate</span> either of you might own and information about how those properties are owned, | *the addresses of any real <span class="noglossary">estate</span> either of you might own and information about how those properties are owned, | ||
*the approximate market value of any real <span class="noglossary">estate</span> and the amount of any mortgages, and | *the approximate market value of any real <span class="noglossary">estate</span> and the amount of any mortgages, 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 <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. Most 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 | 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. | |||
Most 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 <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. | 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}} | {{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?|P]] | [[Category:How Do I?|P]] | ||
{{Creative Commons for JP Boyd}} | |||
