What happens in a consultation?

Many people are not having their best day when they need to visit with a family law attorney.  I understand that and want to spend the time it takes to fully understand your situation and your concerns. I find that people often feel much more empowered with more information, and stress reduces as questions are answered.  At an initial consultation, I meet with you either face-to-face at the office or by telephone if you live out-of-town. You will probably have a lot of questions about the legal problem you are facing and what to expect. At McKenna Family Law, the consultation is an in-depth analysis of your situation.  It is not a free meet and greet. You should plan for your initial consultation to last about 1.5 hours. We will go over the details of your situation and the facts of your case. I will discuss each step of the legal process required for your particular type of matter and address all the questions you have.

If it is a divorce, I will explain the law as it relates to equitable division of property under Missouri law and answer your questions.  We will go through your assets and debts and discuss your plan for your home and any real estate you own.  I will get information from you to determine whether certain assets are marital, non-marital, or mixed. We will discuss treatment of bank accounts, retirement assets, vehicles, and all other property and debts.  

If children are involved in your matter, we will have a detailed discussion on your objectives for physical custody, legal custody, and child support issues.  I will explain the applicable law in these areas as it relates to your child's best interests.

We will discuss whether your case will involve a request for maintenance, either long-term or temporary.  If you or your spouse may be a candidate for maintenance, we will have a more in-depth discussion of the law as it relates to spousal maintenance in Missouri and what your case will likely entail.

For other legal matters, we will similarly go over the situation you are facing and your range of options.  If you have a matter for which you should hire an attorney to represent you and proceed, we will talk about details of the representation, like the costs that will likely be involved, and the attorney-client relationship.