Dates Scheduled for Free Family Law Workshop
On January 10 and 21, I will offer my first free family law workshops of the year. The workshop provides an opportunity to learn about the law and legal procedures in family law matters. We offer the workshops one time per month in each office. We are adding a workshop available as a webinar, if you prefer to participate on-line.
In today’s blog post, I will address frequently asked questions about the free seminar.
Is the workshop free?
Yes. You must register, but there is no cost to attend or to receive any written materials.
Can I bring my partner, spouse, or a support person?
Yes. Please be sure that everyone registers for the session.
Can I bring my children?
Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient space to offer childcare, so please sign up for a session when you can attend without your children.
How long will the workshop last?
Most workshops end in about an hour but may go a little longer to be sure we answer all of the participants' questions.
Is there a deadline for registration? Is there a limit on how many may attend?
Registration usually closes when we reach the threshold for participation and no later than 2 days before the free workshop.
What topics do you cover?
I address substantive questions that participants have about family law. I outline how the law governs the distribution of marital property, spousal support, child custody, child support, and related questions.
Do you describe how to file for divorce?
We discuss the possible processes to apply for divorce, separation, child custody, and support. Those processes include mediation, collaborative divorce, and litigation. We outline the steps, benefits, and costs associated with each procedure.
Will you represent me in the divorce after the workshop?
I work with clients in family law matters in two ways. I work as a mediator, with both parties to help them reach an agreement on important issues. Alternatively, I work with one party to represent them in a collaborative divorce. I do not accept divorce or custody matters when the parties have decided that they want to litigate the issues.
What do I need to bring to the workshop?
Your questions! You do not need to bring any documents or specific materials. The workshop provides a starting point to help you decide how you want to proceed but will not address the details of your case.
What if I cannot come to the workshop, can I schedule a free consultation?
If you cannot attend, you would be welcome to participate in the next workshop at any location. We do not meet privately with potential clients in family law matters. We want to be available to work as your neutral mediator or as one party’s lawyer in a collaborative divorce.
Will I need to hire an attorney for the divorce?
After reaching a mediated agreement, some people hire lawyers to assist them with the process of filing for divorce. In other circumstances, people decide to file pro se, without a lawyer. The documents to proceed without a lawyer are available without cost on various public sites on the Internet.
Do you help fill out the forms if we do not have a lawyer?
While I am a licensed attorney, I can give legal advice only to clients. I can provide legal information or education, but not advice. I can answer general questions about documents to file in a divorce or custody case, but usually cannot instruct anyone on how to fill the forms out. Once you have reached an agreement, you may be able to locate a lawyer who offers “unbundled” legal services to help you with the paperwork.
Attending the workshop provides a free opportunity to get the information you need to make crucial decisions. Sign up for the next workshop to help find those answers.