Questions to settle before the first call

You are not required to have one, and some simple cases move without. A lawyer helps most when children, a house, a business or a retirement account are involved, or when you and your spouse do not agree.

Not much. Write down the dates that matter and gather recent pay stubs and account statements if you can. If you can't, come anyway.

Yes. A friend or relative can come, or sit in by phone. If the subject is very private, we can also meet one on one.

It depends on whether you and the other person agree. I explain the fee in writing before you sign, including what the court charges separately.

Timing varies with the court and with how much you agree on. I will tell you what is typical for your situation, and what could speed it up or slow it down.

Rarely. I will tell you what is likely for your children's ages and how to keep them out of the middle.

We try to agree first, sometimes with a mediator. If that fails, a judge decides based on what is best for the children.

Often yes. Tell me what happened and we'll talk through what the court needs to see.

It takes you straight to another website and replaces this page in your browser's history, so someone looking over your shoulder sees something ordinary.