Lawyer Discovery ResourceFamily LawMedium

Family Lawyer Guide Resource

Prepare to compare or brief a family lawyer by organising the family issue, urgent risks, court orders, parenting facts, financial records, and consultation questions.

Time to prepare1-3 hours

Before you search

0/2 completed

Name the family-law issueWrite whether the issue is divorce, maintenance, parenting, relocation, guardianship, settlement, enforcement, or urgent risk.Not startedSeparate urgent risksRecord safety concerns, missed contact, unpaid maintenance, withheld documents, relocation threats, and court deadlines.Not started

Need help with this checklist?

Get support from a lawyer who works with family law matters.

Book a Consultation

Before the consultation

0/2 completed

Collect family documentsPrepare ID documents, marriage certificate, antenuptial contract, birth certificates, existing orders, parenting plan, and school records.Not startedCollect financial recordsPrepare payslips, bank statements, expense schedule, school fees, medical costs, housing costs, debts, and proof of maintenance payments.Not started

During the consultation

0/2 completed

Ask about the legal routeConfirm whether mediation, maintenance court, divorce court, family advocate process, urgent application, or settlement drafting fits.Not startedAsk about child-focused evidenceCheck what documents help show care arrangements, schooling, medical needs, contact patterns, and practical proposals.Not started

Afterwards

0/2 completed

Keep records currentUpdate payments, expenses, school communication, medical records, contact logs, and court papers.Not startedConfirm instructions in writingSave advice, fee terms, document requests, and next dates before taking the next family-law step.Not started

When It Applies

You need help with divorce, maintenance, parenting, care/contact, guardianship, domestic arrangements, or family-court paperwork.

You are comparing family lawyers before deciding who to contact.

Not For

Emergency safety planning, child abduction, or urgent protection without immediate legal or police help.

Documents

ID documents
Marriage certificate
Birth certificates
Antenuptial contract
Existing court orders
Parenting plan
Payslips
Bank statements
Expense list
School and medical records
Maintenance proof

Timeline

Before search: define the family-law issue and urgency.
Before consultation: organise family and financial documents.
During consultation: confirm route and next step.
After consultation: update records and calendar court or payment dates.

Tips

Keep child-related proposals practical and specific.
Separate emotional history from facts that affect orders or agreements.
Bring financial records where maintenance is involved.
Ask what can be settled and what may need court.

Warning Signs

There is violence, child-safety risk, withheld contact, relocation risk, or urgent financial pressure.
Existing orders are being ignored.
A parent refuses to share key child or financial records.
You are asked to sign a settlement you do not understand.

Official sources

Department of Justice Family AdvocateFamily Advocate and care/contact context.
Department of Justice MaintenanceMaintenance court and family-support context.
Legal Aid South Africa family mattersFamily-law help-route context.

This checklist is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Speak to a Lawyer

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Lawyer Discovery ResourceFamily LawMedium

Family Lawyer Guide Resource

Prepare to compare or brief a family lawyer by organising the family issue, urgent risks, court orders, parenting facts, financial records, and consultation questions.

Time to prepare1-3 hours

Before you search

0/2 completed

Need help with this checklist?

Get support from a lawyer who works with family law matters.

Book a Consultation

Before the consultation

0/2 completed

During the consultation

0/2 completed

Afterwards

0/2 completed

When It Applies

You need help with divorce, maintenance, parenting, care/contact, guardianship, domestic arrangements, or family-court paperwork.

You are comparing family lawyers before deciding who to contact.

Not For

Emergency safety planning, child abduction, or urgent protection without immediate legal or police help.

Documents

ID documents
Marriage certificate
Birth certificates
Antenuptial contract
Existing court orders
Parenting plan
Payslips
Bank statements
Expense list
School and medical records
Maintenance proof

Timeline

Before search: define the family-law issue and urgency.
Before consultation: organise family and financial documents.
During consultation: confirm route and next step.
After consultation: update records and calendar court or payment dates.

Tips

Keep child-related proposals practical and specific.
Separate emotional history from facts that affect orders or agreements.
Bring financial records where maintenance is involved.
Ask what can be settled and what may need court.

Warning Signs

There is violence, child-safety risk, withheld contact, relocation risk, or urgent financial pressure.
Existing orders are being ignored.
A parent refuses to share key child or financial records.
You are asked to sign a settlement you do not understand.

Official sources

Department of Justice Family AdvocateFamily Advocate and care/contact context.
Department of Justice MaintenanceMaintenance court and family-support context.
Legal Aid South Africa family mattersFamily-law help-route context.

This checklist is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Speak to a Lawyer