A consultation with a family law attorney can feel stressful, especially if you’ve never had the need for legal help before. Remember that this meeting is also where you can determine if an attorney is the right fit for you, not just an interview by the attorney. It can help to know the information you need and what to expect at your first family law consultation in Mesa.
Ideally, the consultation allows both you and the potential attorney to discuss the case and potential strategies, and for you to ask questions you have and understand potential results. The right attorney will walk you through each part of the process and make it easier to navigate.
What Should You Expect?
A family law consultation is a meeting with an attorney about your family law case where the attorney listens to your specific situation and your needs in the case. The attorney offers their understanding of your potential resolutions to the case and explains what they can do to help you reach those resolutions. You can ask questions about the attorney, your case, and other important elements.
This meeting is useful to determine if a potential family lawyer is right for your case. It also helps you assess realistic outcomes in your case. In order to get the most from a consultation with a family law attorney, it helps to bring relevant information and documentation and prepare a list of your questions and concerns.
What Information Should You Bring to a Family Law Consultation?
The information you bring to a family law consultation depends on the type of family law case you have. Family law cases often include divorces, child custody cases, guardianships, or adoptions. Basic information for any family law case should include:
- Your basic identification information, including legal name and contact information
- Identification information for parties involved in the case
- The county you live in and the county other relevant parties live in
- Court papers, if you have already filed them or been served in the case
- Any existing orders of protection
- Other existing family court orders
- Any existing agreement or proposal of a settlement
In any family law case, you also should write down your concerns, goals, and priorities. This gives you a starting point when discussing realistic outcomes with an attorney and what you need from them.
Information to Bring to a Divorce Consultation
Thirteen-point-seven percent of women in Mesa and 10.4% of men were divorced, while 1.6% of women and 1.2% of men were separated, as of 2024. In a divorce case, you will need at minimum:
- The date and location of marriage
- The marriage certificate
- A date of separation
- Your most recent tax return and the prior two years of tax returns
- Current income for you and your spouse
- Bank account information
- Mortgage documents
- Retirement account information
- Vehicle titles
- List of any other assets
- List of all debts
- Any prenuptial agreement
Divorce cases often involve many family law cases, like division of property, child custody, spousal maintenance, and child support.
Information to Bring to a Child Custody Consultation
In Maricopa County Superior Court, there were 2,137 filings of custody or parenting time cases, and 14,810 dissolution of marriage filings in fiscal year 2025. Custody cases can also occur when unmarried parents separate. If your case involves minor children, you will want additional information like:
- Your children’s ages and any exceptional needs for their age
- The current parenting plan
- Your preferred parenting plan
- Basic school, daycare, and childcare information
- The historical involvement of each parent in childcare
- Any concerns you have about their safety, including any police reports
- Medical information
Other Information to Bring
In adoption cases, you need proof of your residence in the state, financial information, documentation of an established relationship, or foster placement documents.
For any family law case, if you have pressing concerns, outline them. If your case involves unique aspects, such as high-value assets or significant conflict with another party, an attorney should know that, too.
FAQs
What Happens During a Family Law Consultation?
During a family law consultation, an attorney will go over the specifics of your case with you, including reviewing relevant documents filed with the court. They will outline potential solutions to the family law case depending on your needs. You can ask any questions you have about the case or the attorney’s process and determine the right strategy for handling your case. You can also discuss attorney fees.
What Shouldn’t You Say to a Family Law Attorney?
You shouldn’t hide things from a family law attorney that are relevant to your case. Be straightforward and honest about your situation. For example, in a divorce case, you shouldn’t lie about your assets or income, or claim that things with your spouse are amicable when they are not. An attorney needs this information to assess potential outcomes of your case and to represent you properly. Hiding things can negatively impact the outcome of your case.
What Questions Should I Ask a Family Lawyer During a Consultation?
There are many questions you should ask a family lawyer during a consultation. You should ask questions about the attorney’s experience with cases similar to yours and how cases like yours tend to be handled. You should also ask questions specific to your case goals, like how you can secure temporary orders, the ideal way to file a divorce petition, the necessity of protective orders, and other things relevant to you. You should also ask about fees.
How Much Is a Consultation With a Family Law Attorney?
How much a consultation is with a family law attorney depends on the attorney you work with. Many attorneys charge a flat fee for a consultation. At Ellsworth Family Law, P.C., we charge a $250 flat fee to meet with an attorney and a $150 flat fee to meet with a legal paraprofessional. These consultations usually last for an hour and help you make informed choices about your representation.
Hire a Family Lawyer at Ellsworth Family Law, P.C. in Mesa
It’s important to hire a family lawyer that’s right for you. At Ellsworth Family Law, P.C., two of our attorneys are Certified Family Law Specialists, making us uniquely qualified to handle these cases, and our team has navigated cases at the Southeast Justice Center. Learn how we can help and contact our firm today.
