Your first meeting with a BC family lawyer is more productive when you come prepared. Here is exactly what to bring — and what to expect — so you get maximum value from your time.
The first meeting with a family lawyer can feel overwhelming — you're dealing with one of the most stressful situations of your life and you're not sure where to start. Coming prepared turns that meeting from a general orientation into a focused, strategic conversation about your specific situation. Here is exactly what to bring.
Documents about your relationship
• Marriage certificate (if married) — the lawyer needs to confirm the date of marriage
• Any prenuptial or cohabitation agreement — if you signed one before or during the relationship, bring it
• Separation date — the date you and your spouse separated is legally significant; bring any documentation that helps establish it
• A brief timeline of the relationship — when you met, moved in together, married, had children, separated; this gives the lawyer context quickly
Financial documents
Family law is largely about finances. Bring as much of this as you have:
• Last 3 years of personal tax returns (T1 Generals and Notices of Assessment)
• Recent pay stubs (last 2–3 months)
• Bank and investment account statements (last 3 months for all accounts)
• RRSP, TFSA, pension, and retirement account statements (most recent)
• Mortgage statement and property tax notice for the family home
• Credit card statements and loan documents (outstanding debts)
• A rough list of major assets: real estate, vehicles, investments, business interests
• A rough list of major debts: mortgage, credit cards, car loans, lines of credit
You don't need to have everything perfectly organized — a rough picture is far better than nothing.
Information about children
If you have children, bring:
• Children's names and dates of birth
• Current school names and grades
• Current childcare arrangements (who picks up, drops off, who is home when)
• Information about any special needs, medical conditions, or counselling
• A calendar of existing parenting arrangements if you and your spouse are already separated
• Any concerns about the children's safety or wellbeing that you want to discuss
Information about the other party
• Full legal name of your spouse or partner
• Whether they have a lawyer (and who, if known)
• Their approximate income (even a rough estimate helps)
• Any history of family violence, addictions, mental health concerns, or criminal convictions that may be relevant
• Whether they are cooperative, combative, or somewhere in between
Court documents (if any exist)
If your separation has already reached the courts, bring:
• Any court orders already in place (interim orders, court-filed agreements)
• Court file numbers
• Any notice of applications or court dates coming up
• Correspondence from the other party's lawyer
A list of your priorities and questions
This is often the most valuable thing you can bring — and it costs nothing. Before your meeting, write down:
• What is most important to you: the family home? The children's school? Staying in BC? Protecting your business?
• What are you most worried about?
• What outcome would feel "fair" to you, even if you know it may not be what you get?
• What questions have been keeping you up at night?
Bringing a written list means you won't forget what matters most in the stress of the moment.
What NOT to bring (or do before you come)
• Don't bring your spouse or their family members to a meeting with your lawyer
• Don't forward your spouse's private emails to the lawyer without discussing it first (there are rules about this)
• Don't move significant assets, drain bank accounts, or sign anything before getting legal advice
• Don't post about your separation on social media — these posts can be used in court
What to expect at the first meeting
A first family law meeting is typically 60–90 minutes. Your lawyer will:
1. Listen to your situation — what happened, where things stand, what you're most concerned about
2. Identify the legal issues — which matters are straightforward, which are complex, what the key decisions will be
3. Explain your rights under BC family law — what you're entitled to, what the other party is entitled to, and why
4. Outline your options — court, mediation, negotiated agreement, or a combination
5. Give you a sense of costs — what the process is likely to cost at different levels of cooperation/conflict
6. Answer your questions — the ones you wrote down, and ones that come up in the conversation
At Sea to Sky Law™, Andrew also runs a structured Legal Checkup for clients who want a comprehensive review of all legal risks at once — family, estate, and business — before taking any steps.
If you haven't separated yet
If you're thinking about separating but haven't yet, an initial legal consultation is even more valuable. You can:
• Understand your rights before making any moves
• Learn what information to gather while you still have access to it
• Know what steps would protect you and what would hurt you
• Plan the separation thoughtfully rather than reactively
This knowledge alone can save thousands of dollars in legal fees later.
At Sea to Sky Law™
We offer a free intake call before any formal retainer is signed. In that call, you'll speak directly with Andrew Liggett — not a paralegal or receptionist — and leave with a clearer picture of your situation and your options.
When you're ready for a full meeting, come prepared with what you have. We'll work with whatever you bring and tell you what else we need. No judgment — just practical, honest legal advice.
Book your free intake call today.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Bring whatever you have: a summary of your situation; your marriage certificate or cohabitation start date; financial documents (recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, mortgage statements, property assessments); any existing agreements or court orders; and, if children are involved, information about current parenting arrangements. Do not worry if you don't have everything — your lawyer will tell you what else is needed.
Initial consultations typically run 60–90 minutes. This gives enough time to explain your situation, understand the key legal issues, discuss options, and get a realistic picture of what to expect. At Sea to Sky Law, the free intake call is a shorter first step — usually 20–30 minutes — to assess your situation and determine whether a full consultation is the right next step.
Ask: What are my legal rights in this situation? What are my realistic options? How long will this take? What will it cost? Do you offer limited-scope retainers (help with specific tasks only)? How do you prefer to communicate? What are the next steps? A good lawyer will answer these questions clearly and without pressure.
Yes. All communications between a lawyer and client — including initial consultations — are protected by solicitor-client privilege. Your lawyer cannot disclose what you tell them without your consent. This privilege is one of the most fundamental protections in the legal system and applies even if you do not retain the lawyer after the meeting.