Getting Started

The first step before retaining our family lawyers is to come in for an initial consultation, which allows us to better understand your situation and to provide you with information regarding your options for achieving resolution.  We have a few different Initial Consultation Forms depending on your situation.  Click the appropriate link below to download the appropriate questionnaire for your situation:

1. If you are separating / divorcing:  Family Law Questionnaire
2. If you are living together / plan to live together / plan to marry and need an agreement regarding your relationship: Cohabitation / Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire
3. If you plan on using a surrogate to produce a child: Surrogacy Questionnaire
4. If you aren't sure of whether you are entitled to receive or are required to pay spousal support - this is not required for your separation/divorce consultation, but may be of assistance to your lawyer/mediator: Spousal Support Questionnaire

Please complete and return to us the appropriate completed questionnaire(s) at least 24-hours prior to your consultation.  The more information you provide in your questionnaire, the more quickly we can assess your situation and provide you with detailed advice.  If you feel that certain portions of the questionnaire do not apply to you, or you have trouble completing certain sections, you may leave them blank.  On the final page of the questionnaire there is a checklist of items that may be required in order to advise you; please start to gather these documents and bring as many of them to your consultation as possible. At your consultation your lawyer or mediator will talk to you about any further information or documentation that will be required.  As well, your consultation is designed to allow us to understand your situation further, and to ensure you understand your rights, obligations, and process choice options.  At the conclusion of your consultation you will have the option of how and when you proceed.  Some clients are ready to proceed immediately, and some need some time to think about their options and how they want to proceed, and some want the opportunity to speak with their former partner about the various options.  You decide the timing.  We will create an easily digestible action plan for the next step in your matter. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We look forward to meeting you and assisting you resolve your family matters.

In order to get started with our firm, we need you to first complete our Adoption Consultation Guide. If you are a step-parent adopting your step-child, please Click Here for the Guide. If you are adopting a child other than your step-child, please Click Here for the Guide. Once your Consultation Guide is completed, please return it to our office by email, fax, mail, or in person, and we will contact you for a consultation. We look forward to assisting you.

Estate Planning The first step in planning your estate is taking stock of your assets and debts and deciding who you wish to manage your estate and who you wish to benefit from it. For more information about the matters your estate planning documents – your Will, Enduring Power of Attorney, and Personal Directive – cover, please refer to our Estate Planning Information Sheet. Our lawyers will discuss these questions with you at an initial consultation, and they will provide you with legal advice about how to structure your estate and estate planning documents to best reflect your wishes. We welcome you to contact our office to arrange for an initial consultation. After we have met with you, we will draft your estate planning documents and provide the drafts to you for your review. Once you have approved the documents, we will meet once more to execute the final copies. Estate Administration The first step before retaining one of our estate lawyers is to come in for an initial consultation, where we can provide you with information and advice about the estate administration process and the responsibilities and liabilities of an executor.  This meeting will allow us to assess the steps that are required to administer your loved one’s estate and to assist you in getting started on the process.

In order to have Meridian Law Group complete your real estate transaction, please deliver to us your signed Offer to Purchase. If you have a realtor, please advise them that you will be using our firm for your transaction. They will provide our office with the documentation we require. If you are buying or selling a home without a realtor, and do not have an Offer to Purchase completed, we can assist you with drafting this document, as it will be required to complete your transaction. In this case, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers.