CLIENT CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRE
Please complete the form INDICATED BELOW before meeting with us as the information that you provide is essential to you getting the advice and opion you need during your consultation. The information will be kept confidential and by completing it, you will be organized and prepared for your consultation. By completing it, you will be organized and prepared for your consultation.
YOUR INFORMATION PROVIDED IN OUR MEETING IS CONFIDENTIAL
Before meeting with us, you should know the following:
Most family law matters are settled without the involvement of the court except, if the couple was married, to obtain a divorce order. Upon deciding to separate, a couple has two choices: settle by written agreement or allow the court to settle the dispute by court order. The least favourable alternative is court. A judge doesn’t know you or your family dynamics and will only hear evidence in a formal court room and in a short time period. You cannot control or predict the outcome. You do know that the financial and emotional cost will be high. This information should be sufficient to motivate you to look for ways to negotiate and settle as many of your family law issues as you can before resorting to the court.
About 98% of all family law matters are settled amicably in the form of a written Separation Agreement and a consensual divorce order. On average, a Separation Agreement takes three months to complete and then the divorce, if there is to be one, follows the separation by one year. The only reason that people must go to court is to get a divorce order because, by the Divorce Act, only the Supreme Court can grant a divorce.
Without knowledge of family law and the legal system, you may end up listening to the wrong people (like friends, co-workers and neighbours) and you may make poor choices and bad decisions based on incomplete or wrong information from well-meaning individuals. Only an experienced family law lawyer can fully explain your legal rights, obligations and options to you because no other person will have their expertise. Family law changes and develops from year to year, so even experienced lawyers have to work hard at staying fully informed. How can you expect to sort it all out on your own?
