1. How Do I Set Up An Appointment?
   Potential clients are invited to call for a free consultation to discuss their case, including if there is a need for an attorney, to obtain information about the relevant laws affecting their case, to discuss a strategy to solve any legal issues, and to discuss the terms of the attorney’s possible employment.
   • The preliminary appointment should be set up by telephone with the attorney’s secretary.
   • Office hours are kept on weekdays, Monday thru Friday, from 9:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
   • Attorney Paula McCulloch rates are available upon request and all major credit cards are accepted.
   • You may contact the office by fax, e-mail, or telephone.

   In the event the client wishes to hire the attorney, then the client is given an employment contract to review and court costs plus an estimated retainer to take the case is quoted. The court costs and retainer in each case will be based on the type of case and whether or not the legal issues will be contested. A retainer paid to the attorney is money paid in advance by the client up front to get the case started.

2. What about virtual appointments?
   Virtual appointments can be made using easy teleconferencing software and are fully supported.
3. Is Paula McCulloch a family law specialist?
   Attorney Paula McCulloch specializes is family law which includes the following kinds of cases: Divorce, Annulment, Contested Property Division, Contested Conservatorship, Child Support, Supervised Visitation, Under Three Years of Age Visitation, Modification of Suits Affecting the Parent Child Relationship, Enforcement of Child Support and Visitation, Adoption, Paternity and Termination of Parental Rights. If your case is not a family law case, we will be happy to refer you to other attorney sources.
4. What is the difference in a traditional divorce and the collaborative law model?
   You can’t change the fact that people divorce. You can change the way they divorce. Visit www.collablawtexas.com to learn more about the collaborative law option which may help you find a more peaceful transition to a new life than the the traditional divorce process can produce. I am a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (and you will see me as a member of their web site). This model of problem solving and negotiation is available in my family law practice as well as traditional divorce.
5. Do you practice law in one or more counties?
   Yes, my office is located so as to give me equal access to the courthouses in Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant Counties.
6. Is it possible to have an amicable divorce and just use one attorney?
   Yes it is possible to have an amicable divorce, but it would be a conflict of interest for one attorney to represent both spouses. Be sure to inquire about the “collaborative law model” for resolving family law disputes.
7. How does mediation work?
   This is a very helpful alternative to resolving disputed issues amicably without going to trial to have a Judge rule on a disputed issue. The mediator acts like a referee to keep the parties focused and assist them in negotiating their own resolution to disputed issues. Usually it is important to have attorneys present for each party so that each party is well advised as to available options, rights of the parties, responsibilities of the parties, consequences of any agreement made, and so that the mediated agreement will be binding and enforceable. A mediator does not decide disputed issues for the parties, but rather facilitates the discussion to find solutions acceptable to the parties.
8. Is there an advantage to being the first litigant to file in a Divorce?
   The main advantage in being the first to file is a tactical one, in that the Petitioner is allowed to present its case first and have the opportunity to set the stage for the facts of the case, making the first impression on the Court of the Petitioner’s position. You will want to discuss this option with your attorney.
9. Can you be aggressive in the prosecution of my case?
   Yes, please be advised that the attorney will pursue your case in the most economic and practical way to achieve the results you desire, unless the client specifies a more aggressive prosecution of the case. Naturally the more aggressive the legal services need to be, the more time is involved and therefore the more expensive the fees and costs will be. However, some cases require and receive special attention persistence in order to be concluded in a satisfactory manner.
10. What other costs besides attorneys fees should I expect?
    In addition to the attorney fees charged, there are certain court costs and administrative fees to be paid by a potential client. The employment contract covers the specifics of these costs passed on to the client. Generally, court costs are the Court filing fees, costs to serve process on litigants, subpoena costs and court reporter costs. Administrative costs include costs incurred on your behalf by the attorney such as postage, long distance telephone charges, copying expense, and paralegal time
11. What are some of the things I will need to know about in order to make an informed decision about issues involving a divorce without children?
    You will want to discuss grounds for divorce, jurisdiction and venue, characterization of your property as separate or community, rights of reimbursement, injunctive relief, temporary orders, temporary and permanent spousal support, equal vs. disproportional division of community property , economic contribution and imposition of attorney’s fee on a spouse.
12. What are some of the things I will need to know about in order to make an informed decision about issues involving a divorce, paternity, or suit affecting the parent-child relationship, involving children?
    You will want to discuss: the rights, duties, and responsibility of a parent, a non-parent, a grand parent; the guidelines for child support; the guidelines for access to a child; the concept of Joint managing conservatorship vs. Sole managing conservatorship; the continuing jurisdiction of a Texas court where children are concerned; any history of family violence or abuse; and, the potential exclusive right of a parent to determine and choose a child’s residence and domicile.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EVERY FAMILY LAW CASE IS DIFFERENT, because each family has a special set of facts peculiar to its case. Although information on this web site is provided as a resource to the potential client, the purpose of this web site is to introduce this attorney to the potential client, and the intent is that only a personal interview between the client and the attorney can be relied upon for the client to make informed legal decisions.