Booking your first meeting might feel hard
It can stir up thoughts like:
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- Does this mean it’s really over?
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- What if I fall apart in front of someone?
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- Will they judge me?
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- Is this just going to make things worse?
Our first meeting is just a beginning: a place to talk it through, learn your options, and feel a little less alone. It is a confidential and a safe place for you to share your deepest worries. We’ll meet you wherever you are. Wobbly, angry, scared, steady – it’s all welcome. One step, one conservation. Then, you’re not doing this alone.
What your first meeting with a lawyer will look like
We meet with clients both online and in-person from our Nelson office. When you join us in person, you will walk through a yellow door and be greeted by Lindsey. She makes a great coffee, so if she offers you one, we recommend you say yes!
You are very welcome to bring a support person, either in the room or on the phone. We only ask that they are over 20 and are not your former partner.
You will then head into our meeting room, where one of our specialist relationship property lawyers (or – if you are joining us online – your lawyer will join your call). They have already reviewed your situation, and are ready to answer your questions and help you make a good plan for your next steps.
What people say afterwards…
“I arrived at my appointment feeling nervous, overwhelmed and completely out of my depth. Immediately I felt I was in kind, capable and professional hands.”
“…after my very first chat I felt calmer and reassured.”
“I knew in our first conversation that it was the right choice; the clarity of approach, simple yet structured options, and the sense that they genuinely understood the realities of separation stood out to me.”
“I felt so lost until I sat down with Sarah.”
Usually within 24 hours of your meeting, we will then send you your Clean Break Plan – a clear written summary of all of the key advice you received during the meeting and what the next best steps are for you.
And if you left the meeting and remembered another question in the next 24 hours? Just reach out to us and we will send you a short video answering that too.
There is no pressure to start straight away
Many of our clients are not ready to start on-going work straight away – if that is you, then you simply need to get back in touch with us when you are ready and we can start actioning your plan.
If you are ready to start straight away, you will be sent an engagement letter which will set out the pricing for the next steps. Once that is signed – and when you are ready – we will reach out to your former partner or their lawyer to get the ball rolling on things.
Sometimes other lawyers put a deadline in a letter to you, which can be very stressful if you can’t find a lawyer before the deadline. That deadline can almost always be extended – but if you are worried, call our office and we are happy to look into your situation before your appointment.
What is included in your Separation Consult
We’ve designed the Separation Consult to be more than an hour sitting across from a lawyer. There’s work before the meeting, support afterwards, and a plan for what comes next.
Here’s what’s included:
Pre-Meeting Groundwork — Value $125
We review the information you provide before your meeting (in an online form – it will take you 15 – 20 minutes), so your appointment can be spent talking about you, not gathering basic facts..
Your Strategy Hour — Value $500
A full one-on-one hour with a relationship property specialist, answering your questions, helping you understand where you stand, what matters most, and what your sensible next steps are.
Your Clean Break Plan — Value $300
You don’t need to remember everything we talk about. After the meeting, we’ll send you a clear written summary of the advice we gave and your next steps.
The “I Forgot to Ask” Guarantee — Value $250
Think of something after you leave? Send us your question within 24 hours and we’ll reply with a short video.
Total value: $1,175 + GST
Your Separation Consult: $870 + GST
Book Your Consult
FAQs
What if you’re not the right lawyers for me?
We have a Right-Fit Guarantee. We’re confident you will see the value of your consult. But if, within three months, you decide another lawyer is a better fit for you, tell us who you chose and why — and we’ll give you your consult fee back.
What are the benefits of getting advice early?
The earlier you get advice, the more effective our advice can be. This might even be before separation occurs. The earlier you get legal advice, the more confident you can be about what comes next.
One of the hardest parts of separation is trying to make important decisions while you’re emotionally right in the middle of it. You may be grieving the relationship while also being asked to make decisions about your home, savings, debts and financial future.
That’s a lot for one brain.
Getting advice early can help you separate the emotional decisions from the legal and financial ones. You can understand your legal position before agreeing to something, find out what information you need before negotiations start and identify potential issues before they become expensive problems.
And often, you can discover that things are actually much more straightforward than you feared.
You don’t necessarily need to know exactly what you want before you meet with us. Working that out is part of the point.
“But we’re getting along. Do I really need a lawyer?”
Getting legal advice doesn’t mean you’re preparing for a fight.
If you and your former partner can communicate well and want to reach an agreement together, wonderful. We’re big fans of keeping things amicable where possible. Understanding your legal position can actually make those conversations easier.
Instead of negotiating based on assumptions, fear or what someone’s mate reckons happened in their divorce, you can make decisions with proper information.
You can still be generous. You can still compromise. You can still find a solution that works for you both. You’ll just understand what you’re agreeing to before you agree to it.
Not sure if Clean Break or a Separation Consult is right for you?
If you’re interested in working with Clean Break but aren’t sure whether a Separation Consult is the right next step, you can book a free 15-minute call with our team.
We can learn a little about what’s happening, explain how we work and help you decide whether booking a Separation Consult makes sense. We can’t give legal advice during a free call, but we can point you in the right direction.
And if you’re really not ready to talk to a lawyer yet, join our mailing list. We share practical information about separation, relationship property, communication, finances and the emotional side of untangling a life together. Including a free download of the Clean Break Roadmap.
No pressure. No obligation to pay us any money. Just genuinely useful information to help you understand your options and feel a little more prepared for whatever comes next.
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