Every case is unique and the attorneys at Marple Family Law want to give you the best possible advice, so here are a few helpful tips to make the most of your initial consultation.

Whether it is a divorce or other family law matter, we will start with obtaining background information about your marriage, such as the date of your marriage, name(s) and age(s) of your child(ren), employment history, earnings history, and the composition of the marital estate (e.g., assets and liabilities), including any property that you had at the time of the marriage or acquired during the marriage by inheritance, third-party gift, or personal injury settlement. During this initial information gathering time, it is important to point out any special circumstances that effect you, your spouse, and/or any of your children, such as any medical, physical, or developmental limitations.

Please know that all conversations with our attorneys are confidential and privileged under Georgia law. It is crucial that you are completely open and honest in discussing all aspects of your marriage with us so that we can assess the facts of your case and how Georgia law may apply to your situation. We need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about your spouse and you. Even if it is bad fact against you, we need to know this information so we can help protect you against it. It is imperative that we are not blindsided by it at a deposition or trial, so we have time to work with you in crafting an appropriate response and strategy to address the unfavorable issue.

It is often helpful to bring pertinent documents to the initial consultation. If it is a divorce consultation, then it is helpful to bring materials related to income (e.g., recent tax returns, current paystubs, etc.), assets (e.g., bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, business interests, trusts, vehicles, college savings accounts, etc.), and liabilities (e.g., credit cards, loans, etc.). Please also bring any Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreements, including any attachments thereto such as financial statements or tax returns.

If it is a custody and/or support modification consultation, then please also bring prior court orders and key pleadings from those cases, such as any parenting plans, settlement agreements, and/or child support worksheets.

If you have been served, then please bring all pleadings that you were provided and be prepared to tell us when and how you were served, which is important in determining response deadlines.

Please come with a list of questions or concerns about your situation. We are here to help you and make you feel comfortable with the process. That being said, every case is different and what you find on the internet may not be applicable to your case for a variety of reasons that we will explore during the consultation.

Finally, you can expect the appointment to last approximately an hour, though it can last longer with complex issues. You will experience the patience and understanding of our experienced attorneys during your consultation. Please contact us at 770-884-4000 or visit our website at marplefamilylaw.com to schedule a consultation.