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Divorce and Family Law Office of Joanne Kleiner

Amicable Divorce Attorney

initial consultation

Jul 10

When You First Meet With Your Divorce Attorney

Meeting Your Divorce Attorney: The Initial Consultation

The stress associated with divorce causes many to dread the first encounter with their divorce attorney. Even if it’s the right decision for everyone involved, it’s still hard to get through the process. There were nearly 700,000 divorces reported in the U.S. in 2022, so you don’t have to feel alone in this struggle.

But meeting with a divorce lawyer doesn’t have to be scary or stressful. Before you step into our office for the first time, it may be helpful to learn what you might expect from the experience.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

The first thing that generally happens before the initial consultation is a conflict of interest check, but there’s no need to feel singled out by this. It doesn’t mean our office has anything against you. This is just standard practice as a way to make sure that there are no situations that would make it impossible for us to represent you in court.

The conflict check may be done by another member of the staff at the divorce attorney’s office. Provided there aren’t any issues, our office will reach out to make an appointment.

Meeting for the First Time

At this first meeting, you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to talk about your situation both emotionally and mentally. It’s helpful to both the attorney and you if you have all the facts straight beforehand.

This first meeting should feel more like a conversation than an interrogation, but you will likely be expected to do most of the talking. Your potential attorney will want to learn everything they can from you, so prepare for a lot of questions.

Some information may be reviewed multiple times and from different angles to ensure that a complete and accurate picture is portrayed. This is all so the attorney has everything they need to know about the circumstances in your situation to build the strongest case possible.

All About You

The attorney will probably start with basic personal information like your address and how to get in touch with you. They will then move on to your background as it pertains to this family law matter.

You’ll be asked about when you got married and if you and your spouse have any kids together. Your attorney will want to know their names and how old they are.

Next, you’ll talk about where you and your spouse work and how much money you both make. The attorney will ask about any liabilities and assets that you both have.

Assets encompass things like vehicles, stocks, bonds and accounts including retirement. Liabilities encompass student loans, mortgages and credit card debt. You’ll need to know how much you have in each account. Your lawyer will also ask about your current income.

Be prepared to talk about any prenuptial agreements that were made. Your potential lawyer will ask if there were any assets held by you or your spouse before you got married and that you still retain. They will also need to know whether either of you inherited money at some point while you were married.

Potential Problems

You’ll then discuss the obstacles that your case presents. Custody and parenting time are common examples, along with the associated money matters of child support and alimony. There’s also the cost of college tuition and the myriad other expenses that come with it.

Your attorney will run you through the property division principle of equitable distribution when it comes to your real estate, bank accounts and liabilities. You’ll also discuss the potential need for an expert witness to help build a strong case.

Alternate Dispute Resolution

You may talk about alternative ways to resolve the dispute. These include collaborative divorce, arbitration and mediation. Your lawyer will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each when compared to standard courtroom divorce proceedings.

If you do decide that traditional litigation is best for you, your divorce lawyer will then give you a breakdown of the judicial procedures to expect, how long the process takes and important dates to keep in mind.

Finally, you’ll also talk about the financial aspects of working with the attorney. These include the method of payment, how much they charge per hour, the initial retainer and the frequency of billing.

Call the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner at 215-886-1266 for a Pennsylvania divorce attorney who will work with you through every step of the way. You can also visit our office in Jenkintown at 261 Old York Road, Suite 402.

Jul 21

A la carte or “unbundled” legal services for divorce

Navigating Your Divorce With À La Carte Legal Services

About 40% of all divorce cases involve at least one pro se litigant, which means that they represent themselves. But almost half of them—a number that is still trending up—do have some legal assistance through a concept known as limited-scope representation.

What Is Limited-Scope Representation?

Limited-scope representation—often abbreviated LSR—is referred to by a number of different terms, including legal coaching, unbundled divorce services, and à la carte divorce services. Most people are familiar with the concept of à la carte as it pertains to restaurants. It means, for instance, that you can order your steak as a separate item as opposed to the steak platter, which also includes fries and vegetables. LSR is similar in concept but applies to a divorce lawyer and the legal services that they offer. You can think of those legal services as a menu from which you can select individual items, such as:

  • Providing legal advice
  • Filing documents with the court
  • Preparing and organizing legal documents
  • Representing you or appearing for you in court

Is Limited-Scope Representation Appropriate for All Divorces?

No. A contested divorce is a situation where you generally want your divorce lawyer to oversee the entire process. Even an amicable divorce may not be a good fit for LSR if the proceedings are time-sensitive. Self-representation, even if only to a degree, usually will require an education on your part, and if you lack the time for that learning, then the case is best left to a professional.

How Does Selecting Legal Services À La Carte Unfold?

It usually begins with a confidential initial consultation, which is usually provided at no charge. During this meeting, you will explain the case in detail to the best of your knowledge to the attorney. The lawyer will then assess the case and make recommendations concerning which legal services they believe that you need and which tasks you can handle on your own. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions, but a lawyer will generally require you to agree to pay for at least legal coaching prior to the discussion extending too far into that domain.

Limited-Scope Representation vs. Full Representation

Full representation involves a lawyer overseeing every aspect of your divorce from the moment you hire them—usually prior to proceedings beginning—and through the conclusion. While this approach is the most expensive, that cost is well worth it when the case is complex or time-sensitive and when there is a great deal of money on the line. With LSR, you have greater control. You pay for only what you need, and your lawyer can place great emphasis on the most critical aspects of your case.

Limited-Scope Representation vs. Self-Representation

Self-representation means that you are representing yourself, and many couples involved in amicable divorces choose to represent themselves in order to minimize costs. Some divorces that do not involve children or significant assets are simple enough that self-representation makes sense. However, in most cases, the judge will recommend LSR to both parties. Divorce agreements often have hidden complications that a layman simply cannot see but that a divorce attorney certainly will. Also, self-representation often involves more energy and time than people expected, and the cost of some legal guidance along with document preparation is often well worth it in the end.

Navigate Your Divorce With Greater Control

Are you about to enter a divorce process or already have? Do you need legal representation but want to maintain control over your case and are aiming to avoid the big costs associated with divorce attorney fees? The Law Office of Joanne Kleiner would like to help.

Joanne Kleiner has more than 25 years of experience as a divorce lawyer in Pennsylvania, and her office is located in Jenkintown. Confidential initial consultations are provided at no charge and without obligation. We can accommodate an in-office consultation or host it over the phone or via video conference, and you can schedule your appointment today by calling 215-886-1266 or by contacting us online.