Taking the first step to speak to a family lawyer can feel daunting, particularly if you are facing a difficult time such as separation, divorce or uncertainty about arrangements for your children.
At Timms Solicitors, we understand that every family’s circumstances are different. Our experienced family law team provides clear, practical advice tailored to your individual situation, helping you understand your legal position and the options available to you.
Whether you are considering divorce, need advice about finances, or require support with child arrangements, being prepared for your first meeting with a family lawyer can help you take the next step with greater clarity and confidence.
I’ll explain what documents you may need to bring, the questions you may wish to ask, and how preparing in advance can help your lawyer provide the most effective advice from the outset.
What Happens During Your First Meeting with a Family Lawyer?
During your first meeting, one of our family lawyers will ask you to explain your situation. They will guide the conversation with questions to make sure they have the information needed to advise you properly.
Once your family lawyer has a clear understanding of your circumstances, they will talk you through the next steps and advise you on the options available. They will also explain how Timms can help and provide cost estimates so you can fully consider your options.
After your meeting, you will receive a written letter of advice outlining what was discussed during your appointment. You will also be provided with our helpful client guides.
Understanding Your Situation
It is important that your family lawyer understands your circumstances. They will ask about your relationship, family arrangements and the issues you are facing.
They will want to understand:
- Whether you are married, engaged or cohabiting
- Whether there are children involved
- Whether there are concerns about safety or domestic abuse
- What outcome you would ideally like to achieve
Explaining Your Legal Position
Your family lawyer can provide guidance on:
- Divorce or separation options
- Child arrangements and parental responsibility
- Financial matters, including property, pensions and savings
- Mediation and alternative dispute resolution
- Court proceedings, where necessary
Discussing Next Steps
In your initial consultation, we hope to help you establish:
- What action needs to be taken
- What further information is required
- Possible costs and timescales
- Whether additional support or specialist advice is needed
Documents to Take to Your First Family Law Appointment
You should bring copies of your identification to your appointment.
In some situations, having relevant paperwork available can help your lawyer provide more accurate advice. If you are seeking advice about an existing agreement, such as a prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, cohabitation agreement or separation agreement, you should bring a copy with you.
Financial Documents
To advise you about financial settlements we need full financial disclosure from both parties. Therefore, you do not need to bring any financial documents to your initial appointment.
However, it is helpful to have an idea of your financial circumstances, including about your property, income, savings, pensions and debts.
Documents Relating to Children
If there is an existing court order relating to your children, please bring this to your appointment. If there are any Cafcass or local authority reports, these may also be helpful to bring.
Although we do not usually need other documents at the first meeting, it is useful to have the following information to hand:
- Children’s dates of birth
- School details
- Details of existing arrangements or agreements
- Relevant correspondence with schools or professionals
Evidence or Information About Concerns
If there are issues such as domestic abuse, harassment or safeguarding concerns, it may be helpful to bring any relevant information including:
- Police incident numbers
- Bail conditions
- Medical records
- Messages or correspondence
- Previous court documents
- Details of any support agencies involved
If there are any immediate safety concerns, urgent advice should be sought. Please raise this with our family team straight away.
Questions to Ask Your Family Solicitor During Your First Meeting
The initial consultation is an opportunity to ask questions and understand the options available to you.
Questions About Your Legal Position
To better understand your legal position, you might want to ask:
- What are my legal rights and responsibilities?
- What options are available to me?
- What are the likely outcomes in my circumstances?
- Are there any deadlines I need to be aware of?
- What should I avoid doing at this stage?
Questions About Children
In situations where children are involved, important questions you might want to ask include:
- How are decisions about children usually made after separation?
- What happens if we cannot agree arrangements?
- Do I need a Child Arrangements Order?
- How can I protect my child’s best interests?
Questions About Finances
Where you are seeking advice in relation to financial matters, you might ask:
- How will our finances usually be divided?
- What happens to the family home?
- How are pensions considered?
- What financial information will I need to provide?
- Should I consider a financial consent order?
Questions About Costs and Timescales
Understanding likely costs and timescales is important. You may want to ask:
- How much is my case likely to cost?
- What factors could increase costs?
- How long might the process take?
- Are there ways to resolve matters without going to court?
How to Prepare Before Meeting Your Family Solicitor
Write Down Your Key Concerns
Write down a short summary of what has happened, what you are worried about and what outcome you would like to achieve. This will help ensure everything you wanted to discuss is covered in your initial consultation.
Prepare a Timeline
Key dates can be very important in helping your lawyer understand the background. Before your appointment, you may wish to prepare a simple timeline covering:
- When the relationship began
- Marriage or civil partnership date
- Births of children
- Important events
- Date of separation
Be Honest and Open
It is important to share all relevant information, including matters that may feel difficult or uncomfortable to discuss. Your lawyer can only provide the right advice when they have a complete picture.
What Information Will Your Family Lawyer Need from You?
Your lawyer will need to gather key information from you. This may include your relationship history, current living arrangements, details about your children and parental responsibility, your financial circumstances, any previous legal advice or court involvement, and your main priorities and concerns. This information helps them provide advice tailored to your situation.
What Should You Bring If You Are Considering Divorce?
If you are considering divorce, the court requires a copy of your original marriage certificate to be submitted with the application. You may therefore wish to bring your original marriage certificate to your appointment.
Further information about our divorce services can be found here.
Why Choosing the Right Family Solicitor Matters
Getting the right specialist advice at an early stage can make a real difference. Family law matters often involve legal complexity and sensitive personal issues, so it is important to have someone who can explain your options clearly and give objective guidance. An experienced family lawyer can help you make informed decisions, focus on practical solutions and protect your interests from the outset.
How Timms Solicitors Can Help
Timms Solicitors’ experienced family law team provides clear, practical advice on divorce, separation, children matters and financial arrangements.
We understand that every family situation is different and offer a supportive approach alongside expert legal guidance.
Whether you are considering separation, need advice about children or require help resolving financial matters, our team can help you understand your options and decide on the next steps.
Contact Timms Solicitors today to arrange an initial consultation on freephone 08000116666 or by email at legal@timms-law.com, and take the first step towards understanding your legal position.
Further details about divorce, children, finances and other family law matters can be found on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I take to my first meeting with a family lawyer?
Bring identification, details about any children and finances, and copies of any existing agreements or court orders.
How should I prepare for a meeting with a family lawyer?
Prepare a brief timeline of events, gather any important documents and write down the questions or concerns you want to discuss.
Do I need a lawyer before separating?
You are not legally required to instruct a solicitor before separating, but early advice can help you understand your rights and avoid costly mistakes.
What questions should I ask a family lawyer?
Useful questions include asking about your legal position, possible outcomes, costs, timescales and the options available to resolve your situation.
What documents do I need for a divorce lawyer?
Typically, you may need your marriage certificate, details of assets and debts, and information about children.
How long does a first appointment with a family lawyer take?
The length of an initial meeting varies, but appointments can usually take up to one hour. It is usually an opportunity to discuss your circumstances, receive initial advice and understand the next steps.
