Most professionals working in the areas of separation and divorce, me included, offer potential clients an introductory phone call. On my website you can directly schedule these no-charge calls. At the end of the call, my hope is that you and I will have a sense of our ability to work well together.
Here are some suggestions to help you get the most out of that brief phone call.
Have a pen and paper ready before we speak.
Please ask me about my training, experience and accreditation. I am happy to explain these to you.
Be prepared to tell me a little about your family. If you have kids, their ages, when you got married and when the decision to separate was made.
If your family has unique circumstances, ask if I have any experience with that subject. Others have asked me about working with parental addictions, long-distance parenting, mental health issues or children with special needs.
Be prepared to provide broad information about your financial situation. It is helpful for me to know your incomes and the extent of your assets and debts.
Explain any significant concerns you have. Many people share they are worried about being in the same room as their ex-partner, others are unsure how to use breakout rooms and still others are concerned their mother-in-law may try to attend. We can review these concerns together.
Ask about my fees. The information is also on my website, but people often have more detailed questions.
Here are some topics that I may share with you, or questions I may ask.
I will explain what mediation and collaborative family law are, and answer questions you have about them.
I will explain how my fees are charged, and how long it takes for most families to complete the process.
I will explain what other professionals may be needed to help finalize your separation. I can provide names of lawyers, financial professionals or therapists if clients could benefit from their support. You are under no obligation to work with any professional I mention, and I can always suggest ways to find other professionals as needed.
I will explain what my role is and what it is not. I will also explain neutrality because it is a one of my key responsibilities.
I will ask about any safety concerns you have and will explain ways that my work can adapt to your resolve your concerns. For example, would you prefer to be in separate rooms, to have your lawyer present or not, or to be in person or over video.
Based on what you share with me, I may direct you to podcasts, articles or books that may be of interest to you.
If your children are old enough, I will raise the possibility of bringing their voice into the mediation or collaborative process. Hearing from children/teens is helpful but not mandatory.
With your permission I will email you “What to expect” documents that you can share with your ex-partner. These documents confirm what I shared with you in our call and may answer questions that later come to mind.
Now if you are ready to arrange that first phone call, use this link to schedule your call.
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