What to Ask a Maryland Divorce Lawyer During Your First Consultation

What happens during an initial consultation with a Howard or Montgomery County divorce lawyer?

The initial consultation with your Howard and Montgomery County divorce lawyer is one of the most important steps you’ll take in the divorce process. It is the first step and can lay the groundwork for how the divorce proceeds.

When you first sit down with a divorce lawyer, you will likely introduce yourself and explain why you made the consultation appointment. It is important that you are completely open and honest about every detail of your divorce. We need to fully understand your unique situation and relevant circumstances in order to know what type of legal strategy is essential to move forward and protect you.

Getting to know each other and learning about your needs

Before anything else, you will share background information about your relationship, such as how long you have been married, if you are currently separated from your spouse, how many children you have, and so forth.

The initial consultation is also the time to explain to your attorney if there are any outstanding issues – significant debts, for example, or a history of addiction. If you are worried about abuse, now is the time to say it, so that your lawyer – assuming you both want to work together – can help you pursue a protective order through the court process.

Next, we’ll look at any paperwork or documentation you may have brought along with you. Some clients send this information ahead of time, but not everyone, and that’s okay. For example, if you bring copies of your financial statements, we can review them with you.

We may also ask for specific types of documents – wills, copies of trusts, copies of deeds, credit card statements, or pay stubs. If you don’t bring documents with you, don’t worry. We can also review these after the initial consultation.

Information about the current laws that may play a role in your case

After we have a good understanding of your current circumstances, we will explain the key Maryland laws that may affect your case, including those relating to divorce, property division, child custody, child support, and alimony. You should know these laws and how they may affect you going forward, so you can make informed decisions.

In addition, our lawyers can discuss what the divorce process consists of and what you should expect in the coming months.

Common questions for divorce attorneys during your initial consultation

We expect you to have many questions. You do not have to ask all your questions at the initial consultation. We expect that you’ll have many questions during our representation of you.

At McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers, we make sure that there is always someone to answer your questions, such as an attorney or a team member who can assist you. Please know there is no correct or incorrect question. We welcome all your questions. The following list is not meant to be all-inclusive. You’re likely to have other questions as your case proceeds.

General questions

• What is your legal background?
• Why do clients choose your law firm?
• How long do you think my divorce case will take?
• How contentious are divorces?
• How much do you charge?
• Are there alternatives to litigation?
  • What is the collaborative divorce process?
  • What is divorce mediation?
• Do you handle LGBTQIA+ cases?
• What happens if my spouse or my spouse’s lawyer is aggressive or obnoxious?
• What are the tax consequences of a divorce?
• Do you handle complex cases, such as high-asset cases?
• How do you keep me informed?
• Do you handle paternity issues?
• Do you handle requests for protective orders?

Questions about divorce

• What are the grounds for filing for divorce?
• Do I have to show my spouse was at fault for the marriage failing?
• What happens if my spouse contests the divorce?
• How do all parts of the divorce process work?
• Will I have to appear before a judge?

Questions about child custody

• What is legal custody?
• What is physical custody?
• Can custody be shared?
• How do I maximize the time I have with my child?
• How do I ensure my ex will care for our child?
• How do I protect my child if there is abuse or neglect?
• What is a parenting plan?
• What factors determine who has legal or physical custody of my child/children?
• Can my children attend the same school?
• How do you ensure that my child doesn’t suffer emotionally from the divorce?
• Can my spouse or I relocate to a different state or county?
• Can my child express a preference?
• Can I keep my child out of the courtroom?

Questions about child support

• What factors determine how much child support a parent has to pay?
• How do you show how much income a parent is earning?
• How do you address healthcare, special needs, and other unique expenses?
• Do both parents have to agree to pay for college for children?
• What happens if my ex or I have other children?
• Can child support orders be modified?
• How do you ensure a parent who owes child support pays what they owe, and pays on time?

Questions about property division

• Can I keep my family in our home?
• What if my spouse or I own a business?
• How do you show what assets my spouse has and the value of all those assets?
• What assets are divided?
• How is marital property divided?
• What happens if there is a pre-marital or a marital agreement already in place?
• How should I prioritize what assets I keep?
• What happens if my spouse refuses to reveal all their assets?
• How do you determine the debts of spouses or partners?
• Am I liable for my spouse’s debts?

Questions about alimony

• What are the different types of alimony in Maryland?
• What factors determine the amount of alimony a former spouse pays?
• How long do alimony payments last?

The next steps after the initial consultation

Once you have learned about the laws surrounding your case and how they may impact your divorce, we can start to discuss your needs and goals in earnest. The goal is to reach a resolution with your ex-spouse or partner and to reach an outcome that works for you.

In a perfect world, both parties will be amenable to compromise and reach this outcome easily, but this is not always the case. To that end, our divorce attorneys may sketch out some potential pathways to resolution, just so you know how the process may proceed. We cannot guarantee we will take one path or another, but we can show you there are options available to you.

Please call us for a family law consultation now

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the divorce lawyers at McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers. Our team is experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable when it comes to various types of divorce cases. If you decide to work with us, you can feel confident that your case will be handled by experienced counsel.

Whenever you are ready, we invite you to fill out our contact form or call our office to begin pursuing your new life after divorce. We have multiple office locations for your convenience, which are located in Fulton, Bethesda, Rockville, and Columbia.