Bo - I think that if you liked her and what she had to say, there is nothing wrong with sticking with her. I have only met with one L and it did cost but I would have stuck with her even if it didn't. She has a good reputation, she listened and asked pertinent questions, she offered her opinion but wasn't bossy about it, and she also is an L who doesn't think it is useful to make everything a fight and spend more money than is needed. That last one is important to me. I don't want to make this process any more adversarial or lengthy than it needs to be. At the end of the day, I just want to ensure my kids will be okay and move forward with the grief process and GAL. Sounds like that is your wish as well. (((HUGS)))
(((DV)))
I do like her, her message, and her MO. She asked good questions, mentioned that I was well-prepared for our meeting (even though I didn’t feel like it), she’s not bossy and doesn’t intend to make things a fight. However, I’m sure that she’d be willing to put on the bossy face and fight it out if it comes to that. She was astonished when I would tell her about how much W travels / goes away for work—she couldn’t really believe it. I also wanted to have a woman lawyer, because I’m sure she could be sympathetic towards the children—but also to kinda mind-f@ck with W if it gets that far, because if I’m going to have to fight, might as well have a woman going after another woman.
I don’t want this to be any more adversarial or lengthy than it has to be (I frankly didn’t want this to begin with, but I need to remember that she’s brought the fight to me), but I do want to protect myself, my interests, and my interests towards the boys. She did acknowledge that the kids are young enough where ‘they should be okay,’ and that is W’s interests for the parenting plan, too. But I also wanted to know my rights about staying here—and not starting that unless / until I absolutely need to, and she was on the money about that. I go back and forth about moving forward and the grief process, and will probably comment on that later.
Originally Posted by Twofeet
Paying for a consultation must be standard for your area. Where I am at its standard for the consultation to be free. Well if you like her, she is aggressive, but wants make it as inexpensive as possible then you have a choice to make.
Sure looks to be standard, unfortunately. Must be a SoCal / OC thing.
It’s funny—W would talk about how living in OC is more her ‘speed,’ and that she embraced the OC mom ‘stereotypes’ (such that they are), including, but not allegedly limited to, shopping at Target with a young child and a car seat in the cart while drinking Starbucks, as well as drinking more wine casually. I’d also add ‘divorcing your spouse’ to this list, because that is apparently becoming a thing and plays into the worst of the stereotypes.
