What documents should clients bring to their first consultation?

Request recent tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, bank statements, and mortgage statements. This allows for accurate case assessment and faster document preparation.

How does document-first intake improve efficiency?

When financial documents are collected upfront, forms can be pre-populated before the first meeting. This transforms consultations from data gathering to strategy discussions.

What if clients don't have access to financial documents?

Guide clients on obtaining copies from IRS transcripts, employer HR departments, and bank statements online. Early document gathering prevents delays later in the case.

How Can Family Law Firms Streamline Client Intake?

Client intake sets the tone for the entire case. Here's how family law firms are transforming their intake process.

The problem with traditional intake

Most firms follow this pattern: client calls, you schedule a consultation, client arrives with nothing, you spend 30 minutes asking basic questions, client goes home to gather documents, emails trickle in over weeks, your staff chases missing items. This wastes billable time and frustrates everyone.

Document-first intake: flip the order

Request documents before the first meeting, not after. When a prospective client calls, send them a secure upload link for: last two years of tax returns, recent pay stubs or W-2s, three months of bank statements, mortgage statement if applicable. Most people have these accessible digitally and can upload within 24 to 48 hours.

What this changes about your first meeting

With documents in hand, your first consultation transforms. Instead of asking 'What's your income?' you can say 'I see you earned $85,000 last year. Let's talk about what that means for support calculations.' You demonstrate competence immediately. The client feels understood. You can give realistic assessments on day one.

The documents that matter most

Tax returns reveal income, deductions, and often hidden assets. W-2s and pay stubs confirm current employment. Bank statements show spending patterns and account balances. Mortgage statements establish property equity. These four document types populate 70% or more of the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration.

Handling clients who resist

Some clients hesitate to share financial documents early. Address this directly: explain that you need accurate information to give them useful advice, that everything is confidential, and that gathering documents now prevents delays later. Most resistance comes from not understanding why you need the documents.

Technology that supports this workflow

Secure document upload portals eliminate email attachments. Automated reminders reduce staff follow-up time. Document extraction tools can pre-populate forms before you review. The goal is reducing manual data entry so your team focuses on legal work, not administrative tasks.