Before you sign with a family law attorney in Florida, ask five things: who will lead your case, how much experience that lawyer has in your county, what the full cost will look like, who will answer your questions, and what the plan is, including the risks. A good firm will answer all five in the first meeting and put the money terms in writing.
That can feel like a lot to ask of someone you have just met, especially if you are in the middle of a separation or a custody dispute. It is a reasonable thing to ask. You are choosing someone to guide you through decisions about your home, your income, and your children. Here is what each question is really getting at, and what a useful answer sounds like.
1. Who will lead my case, and who else will work on it?
Most firms work in teams, and that is usually fine. Routine tasks cost less when a paralegal handles them, and a second lawyer can cover a hearing if your attorney is in trial. What matters is knowing who is responsible for your case.
Ask for the name of the lawyer who will lead it, who will attend your mediation and any hearings, and who covers if that person is unavailable. If the lawyer you met at the consultation is not the lawyer who will handle your case, you should hear that before you sign.
2. How many cases like mine has that lawyer handled in this county?
Family courts in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties each run on their own local procedures, and judges within a county have their own practices. A lawyer who regularly appears in the court where your case will be heard has a working sense of how it moves.
Ask about the specific attorney, not the firm in general, and about cases similar to yours: a contested parenting plan, a business owner’s divorce, a modification of support. Be careful with answers that sound too neat. Florida’s advertising rules do not allow lawyers to promise or predict results, and a lawyer who guarantees one is telling you something about how they practice. If a lawyer says they are board certified, you can check their profile on The Florida Bar’s website.
3. What will this cost, from start to finish?
Ask for four numbers in writing: the initial retainer, the hourly rate for each person who will work on your case, the billing increment (many firms bill in tenths of an hour, or six minutes), and an estimated range through mediation and through trial. Then ask what is not included. Filing fees, service of process, mediators, depositions, and experts are often billed separately.
One more point specific to Florida. The Bar’s rules generally prohibit a fee in a divorce matter that depends on getting the divorce, or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement you receive. If someone offers you that arrangement, ask why.
4. Who answers my questions, and how quickly?
Most client frustration in family law comes from silence, not from outcomes. Ask who handles routine questions, whether that is the lawyer, a paralegal, or intake staff, and what response time is realistic. Ask how urgent matters, such as a hearing notice or a safety concern, reach your attorney. Then ask whether time spent on emails and calls is billed, and at what rate.
5. What is your strategy, and what could go wrong?
An honest answer includes the likely path (negotiation, mediation, hearing, or trial), the realistic range of outcomes, the main risks, and a timeline that depends on things nobody controls, such as the court’s calendar and the other side’s cooperation. Early in most Florida cases, both sides must exchange sworn financial information, generally within 45 days of the petition being served, so a lawyer should also tell you what to start gathering now.
Be wary of certainty. Be equally wary of a lawyer who cannot give you any picture at all.
What to bring to the consultation
Recent tax returns, pay stubs, bank and retirement statements, a list of debts, and any existing court orders or agreements. If children are involved, a rough picture of the current schedule. You do not need to have everything. Bring what you have.
If you would like to talk it through
We are happy to answer these five questions about our own firm.
Call 305-653-5555
Text 305-651-1515
Email us at [email protected]
or complete the form at the top of the page, and one of our attorneys- not a salesperson or an AI agent- will call you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I meet with more than one family law attorney before hiring? Many people do, and a reputable attorney will not take offense. Meeting two or three lets you compare answers to the same questions, and how each lawyer explains things is often as telling as what they say.
Can a Florida family law attorney guarantee the outcome of my case? No. Outcomes depend on the facts, the law, the judge, and the other party. Florida’s advertising rules also bar lawyers from advertising a prediction or guarantee of specific results.
What is a retainer? A retainer is an upfront payment the firm applies to its fees and costs as it does the work. Ask how it is held, how often you will receive statements, and what happens to any unused balance.
