Bradley Frick & Associates

Bradley Frick & Associates

Phone:614-297-1000
Fax:614-297-6666
Email Us: info@fricklegal.com

1265 Neil Avenue
Columbus OH 43201
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s the first step I should take if I want to talk about a legal issue?
Call us at 614-297-1000 and schedule an initial consultation. We can best advise you after we’ve met, reviewed the facts, identified the issues and determined your goals.

Is there a fee for the initial consultation?
Yes, there is a modest fee for your first appointment. During this meeting we take as much time as is needed to understand the facts and issues, answer your questions and identify your goals. The initial consultation is the most important meeting you will have with a lawyer. It is important that lawyer and client get on the same page and stay there together. Toward that end you will, in most instances, meet with two of our attorneys during your first appointment. We will also discuss your rights, your options and the procedure necessary to attain your goals. We will also cover the estimated minimum cost of attaining your goals.

How much is a typical retainer?
There are no “typical” retainers because each case is unique. No one else has your set of facts, your unique situation. However, after the in-depth interview that is your initial consultation we will be able to quote you our estimate of the minimum cost of the case. That minimum will become your retainer.

What should I bring to the initial consultation?
In most cases, there is no need to bring anything to the initial consultation. This meeting is about gathering the facts, identifying your goals, going through the process and estimating cost and time frames.

However, if you are involved in an ongoing matter and are looking to change counsel or seek a second opinion, please bring all court documents that have been filed or exchanged in the pending action. If this is a post-decree family law matter (your divorce/dissolution/custody matter is complete and you have a binding order from the court), please bring with you the most recent Orders (Decree of Divorce/Separation Agreement/Parenting Decree/Shared Parenting Plan and any post decree orders that are currently in effect). We need to know what Orders are currently in place so we can properly advise you. If this is a new divorce/dissolution/custody situation and your spouse has already served you with documents from the court or a proposal for settlement, then please bring those documents with you.

If this is a sports case we will need you to call in and make an appointment and then fill out a short questionnaire that we will review prior to our initial consultation.

If this is an ethics matter and you have been notified by a certified grievance committee, bring any paperwork you have received in the matter.

If your situation has not been addressed by any court or by any other party, there is no need to bring anything with you. We will use our time together to talk about the facts, procedure, your goals, timeframes and potential cost.

Do you have weekend hours?
Yes, we have Saturday morning hours by appointment.

What is the difference between a divorce and a dissolution?
A dissolution of marriage is the termination of your marriage by agreement prior to seeking any court intervention. To achieve a dissolution, the parties must agree on every issue from the division of the forks and spoons to support (if any), custody, and parenting issues if you have children.

A divorce is a contested lawsuit, initiated by the filing of a Complaint with the court. If a divorce is not settled by agreement prior to a final hearing, the court will determine the outcome.

Dissolutions and divorces both result in the termination of the marriage; they just take different paths to achieve the same result.

I just was served with a Complaint for Divorce from my spouse. What should I do?
Call us at 614-297-1000 and schedule an initial consultation as soon as you can and please mention when you call that you have been served with divorce papers. You have a certain time frame (28 days from the date of receipt) in which you must respond to the divorce complaint, which means you should not wait to address this. We will schedule you in as soon as possible to address the many questions and concerns you will have.

Do you represent anyone with a domestic relations issue, or only those seeking a divorce?
We handle ALL domestic relations issues: married with children, married without children, unmarried partners, unmarried parents who have never lived together, same-sex couples or parents, grandparents, siblings, children, etc. If you have a domestic relations issue, assume we handle it; if we don’t or can’t, we’ll send you to someone who can help you.