Last updated: October 2026
What questions should I ask a divorce attorney during a consultation?
Before hiring a divorce attorney, ask who will handle your case, how fees are billed, what a typical retainer is, which courthouse hears your matter, and how the attorney communicates. Straight answers to those five questions tell you more than a website does.
This is general information about California family law. It is not legal advice, and reading it creates no attorney-client relationship.
I have practiced family law exclusively for over 20 years, and the consultations that go best are the ones where the person arrives with questions. Here is what I would ask if I were on the other side of the desk.
Who will actually handle my case?
At many offices, the lawyer you meet is not the lawyer who appears in court. Ask directly.
I am a sole practitioner. The attorney who takes the case is the attorney who handles it, from the first filing to the last hearing.
How are fees billed, and what does a retainer look like?
Ask for the hourly rate, the typical retainer, and what happens when the retainer runs down. Ask what is billed for phone calls and emails.
My hourly rate is $300. A retainer for a new case typically ranges from $4,700 to $7,500, and the amount depends on the case. Those are typical figures, not a fixed quote or a guarantee of total cost. The initial consultation is free.
Which courthouse will hear my case?
San Diego County family cases are heard in different locations depending on where you live and where the case is filed. I appear at the Downtown San Diego, Vista, El Cajon, and Chula Vista family courthouses.
An attorney who knows the courthouse knows the filing routines and the pace of that location. Ask whether the lawyer appears there regularly.
How will we communicate?
Ask how you will reach the attorney and what to expect when you do. Vague answers here often mean frustration later.
You can call or text my office, and I respond for a quick response. I do not use an online scheduler or a booking calendar.
What should I bring to the first conversation?
A short list helps more than a stack of paper.
- The names of both parents and any children, with birth dates
- The date of marriage and the date you separated, if you separated
- Any papers you have been served with or have filed
- A rough picture of income, accounts, property, and debts
- Your main goals, in order of importance
Does the attorney attend Family Court Services mediation?
This one surprises people. Attorneys are not permitted in a Family Court Services mediation session. What I do is prepare clients beforehand so they know what to expect. Private mediation is a separate matter that I do handle.
If you want to see how the process works from filing forward, read how a divorce attorney navigates the California process or the divorce practice area page. For cost detail, see what a divorce attorney costs in San Diego.
My office is in Mission Valley at 591 Camino De La Reina, Suite 821. Spanish-language assistance is available through an outside translator. Call or text (619) 250-2683 to start a free initial consultation.