Getting Started:
If you are here on this page, you are likely contemplating a divorce, or are currently navigating one and may be looking for a new representation. If this is the case, you have landed on the right page. Sullivan Law and Associates is here to help in any way possible.
Below we are going to be answering frequently asked questions in relation to getting started with our firm and will also be providing you with some great take away resources. Please feel free to review and utilize these resources to your benefit, even if you choose not to retain our services.
On this page we will focus specifically on getting started with the divorce process. If you are looking for other educational materials, please navigate to our Learning page. There you may find other resources on the family law process, such as child custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence, post judgment modifications, prenuptial agreements, and more.
Before you get started with us, we highly recommend that you do some preliminary research into the divorce process.
You may want to start by getting a greater understanding of divorce by educating yourself on what the process will be like. It is best to start with a self-assessment and thoroughly understand if divorce is the direction you want to move. Below are some materials to help you understand the divorce process.
If you do want to go through with divorce, you need to next decide if you want to hire an attorney. This is a very important decision. You need to hire someone you trust and who can communicate well with you. The attorney you elect to hire is going to be your mouthpiece and your counselor through the divorce process. You need to trust that they are going to say the right things to opposing counsel and to the judge. You are also going to have to trust the advice they are giving you is in your best interest. Also, you need to know that they are going to call, email or text you back. Some attorneys are notorious for being absent when they are needed.
Below are some resources to help educate you on whether it is necessary for you to hire an attorney and choosing the appropriate attorney for your needs.
- Divorce Quiz: Do I Need an Attorney for My Divorce?
- Frequently Asked Questions about Hiring a Divorce Attorney
Should you decide to hire an attorney, below is some information on how to work most effectively with them.
Should you decide to retain us for our services, here is how our firm intakes new clients:
First, you will have an intake call with our non-attorney Intake Specialist who will gather some general information from you. Attached here you may find our Initial Intake Form.
Second, if you decide we could potentially be a good fit for you, we suggest you have a consultation with one of our attorneys. Typically, these consultations occur with our Founder, Richard Sullivan, and typically last about an hour. We can conduct a consultation via phone or a video conference.
Our firm currently uses the following video conferencing methods to provide clients with consultations and casework:
• Microsoft Teams—currently our preferred method!
• Zoom
• FaceTime
• Go-To Meeting
• Google Hangouts
After your consultation, and should you choose to retain us, our Client Relations Manager will send you a retainer, via Docusign, where you will review and sign the agreement. Our minimum retainer is $7,500 and we do bill against that fee. Should you have any questions please, do not hesitate to contact our Client Relations Manager or the attorney you met with.
Lastly, the firm will ask you to pay the retainer amount requested on the agreement and we will begin work on your case. Typically, this involves some of the documentation listed below, including the Budget Worksheet.
Now that you have hired your attorney, here is some information you may need to do to start the process:
Now that you have retained an attorney that has started working on the divorce itself, it may be time to deliver this news to your children. Here is some helpful information on how to broach that topic.
Again, should you want any additional resources to learn about the divorce process or any other family law process visit our Learn page to discover more.
If we can be of assistance in any other way, please feel free to contact our office at 949-565-2793. We are here to help you in any way possible through this process.
