Prepare the five-part review pack
- Current operative orders, agreements and upcoming deadlines.
- One-page case map listing the children, present arrangements, requested advice and live issues.
- Selective chronology with evidence references.
- Master index plus the key source files.
- Written question sheet identifying decisions you need to make.
Send bulky background material separately and label it as an archive. Ask about secure transfer rather than emailing sensitive child records or a large unencrypted attachment.
Copy this one-page case map
CHILDREN + AGES:
CURRENT OPERATIVE ORDER/PLAN + DATE:
CURRENT PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENT:
NEXT HEARING / MEDIATION / DEADLINE:
ADVICE I NEED NOW:
ISSUE 1 + DATE RANGE:
ISSUE 2 + DATE RANGE:
OUTCOME OR OPTION I WANT TO DISCUSS:
IMMEDIATE SAFETY OR URGENCY POINT:
OTHER PROCEEDINGS / PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED:
RECORD GAPS OR DISPUTED FACTS:
ATTACHED: order / chronology / index / key sources“Advice I need now” keeps the pack tied to a decision rather than asking the lawyer to discover the question.
Use an issue–fact–source matrix
Issue: repeated changes to school-night returns.
Baseline: order dated 4 February, paragraph 11.
Facts: six agreed or unilateral changes between March and May; two affected school arrival.
Sources: ORD-02; MSG-061–074; SCH-04 attendance report.
Gap: 28 April return time based only on entry recorded next morning.
Question: Which facts are legally relevant, and what further proof or response is needed?
This format lets the lawyer separate a provable event from its possible legal significance.
Write a useful chronology
Keep each line to date, neutral event, child-related consequence and source reference. Put submissions or accusations in a separate note. If a later document changes your understanding, add the date received and flag the correction. Don't silently rewrite a chronology that has already been shared.
Current England and Wales bundle rules use formal concepts such as a chronology, index and Bates numbering. A solicitor may need a specific structure or page limit. Your private chronology is preparation material; ask before assuming it is ready to file.
Flag weaknesses before the meeting
Tell the lawyer which points rely on memory, which sources are incomplete, what may be disputed, and whether material has already been sent elsewhere. Include unhelpful facts that materially affect the advice. A lawyer can work with a weakness that is visible; a late surprise wastes time and may change the strategy.
Keep legal advice and your notes of it separate from the evidence archive. Privilege and confidentiality rules vary, and forwarding advice widely can create problems. Follow the lawyer's instructions on storage and circulation.
Use the meeting to decide next actions
Ask which issues matter, what can be excluded from the working set, which originals need better preservation, whether witness evidence is appropriate, and what deadlines apply. Record the action owner and date: you obtain the school record; the lawyer reviews the order; a third party handles service.
Update the master index after the meeting with a review status rather than deleting rejected material. The complete private archive remains intact while the working set becomes smaller and more useful.
Sources checked
Legal processes and terminology vary. These official sources were checked for the general principles used in this guide.
- GOV.UK: guide for separated parents, children and the family courts checked 2026-07-19.
- England and Wales Family Procedure Rules: Practice Direction 27A checked 2026-07-19.
Should I write a long account before the first appointment?
A short case map and chronology are usually easier to review. Ask the lawyer whether a longer statement is wanted and in what format.
Should I send every message?
Preserve the complete archive, then send a focused set with an index unless the lawyer requests the full export. Include enough context for each selected exchange.
What should I bring to an urgent appointment?
Bring the operative order, urgent document or message, key dates, the deadline and a concise statement of the decision or help you need. Follow local emergency guidance where safety is involved.
How Casewell can help
Casewell helps you keep calm, timestamped, organized documentation with attachments and PDF exports for attorney review, family court preparation, mediation, or your own records.
