15 Questions to Ask a Family Law Attorney in Las Vegas Before You Hire

Why These Questions Matter

Family law proceedings — divorce, custody, child support, alimony — can be among the most emotionally and financially draining experiences of your life. The right attorney will guide you through the process strategically, protect your interests, and help you make clear-headed decisions when emotions make it difficult to think clearly. The wrong attorney can cost you tens of thousands of dollars and years of unnecessary conflict.

The 15 Questions to Ask

• Do you primarily handle contested or uncontested family law cases?
  Some attorneys specialize in high-conflict contested divorces; others focus on collaborative and uncontested matters. Know which your case is likely to be and ensure the attorney has experience with that type. If you and your spouse are already in strong disagreement, you need a litigator with trial experience in Clark County Family Court — not just someone who files joint petitions.
• What is your billing structure, and how large is my retainer?
  Family law attorneys in Nevada typically charge hourly ($250-$450/hr for experienced Las Vegas attorneys) with an initial retainer ($2,500-$10,000 or more for complex cases). The retainer is deposited in trust and drawn against as work is performed. Ask: What is your hourly rate? What does the retainer cover? What happens when it's exhausted? Are paralegal and administrative time billed, and at what rate?
• Is my case a good candidate for mediation before litigation?
  Clark County Family Court generally requires mediation before trial in contested cases. But you can also pursue private mediation earlier — potentially saving significant time and money. Ask whether the attorney prefers to push for early mediation and whether they have experience navigating mediation successfully. An attorney who always litigates may not be cost-effective for your situation.
• How long will my case realistically take in Clark County?
  Uncontested divorces (joint petitions) can be finalized in 3-6 weeks. Contested divorces in Clark County Family Court typically take 12-24 months from filing to final decree. Cases with business valuations, forensic accounting, or contested custody can take longer. Ask for a realistic timeline broken into phases, and ask what factors could accelerate or delay resolution.
• How do you approach community property division in complex cases?
  Nevada is a community property state — most assets acquired during marriage are split 50/50. But complex cases involve business interests, retirement accounts, stock options, real estate, and separate property tracing. Ask what experts they work with (forensic accountants, business valuators, QDRO specialists) and how they approach situations where a spouse may be hiding or undervaluing assets.
• What is my realistic chance of receiving or avoiding spousal support?
  Alimony is discretionary in Nevada and depends on 11 statutory factors. A good attorney can assess your situation and give you a realistic expectation — not just tell you what you want to hear. If you're the lower-earning spouse, ask how they'll document the disparity. If you're the higher earner, ask what defenses or mitigating factors exist to limit or avoid alimony.
• What custody arrangement are you likely to recommend or argue for?
  Nevada courts strongly prefer joint physical custody. Ask whether the attorney will push for your preferred arrangement and what evidence and arguments they'd make to support it. Also ask how they handle cases where the other parent is likely to oppose the arrangement — what strategies have worked for them in Clark County Family Court?
• How do you handle high-conflict co-parenting situations?
  If your co-parent is likely to be uncooperative, ask whether the attorney has experience with high-conflict cases — parental alienation allegations, child preference issues, requests for sole custody, and contempt motions for violations of custody orders. These cases require specific skills and a particular temperament in an attorney.
• Who specifically will be handling my case and attending my hearings?
  In many family law firms, a senior partner signs the client and hands the case to a junior associate. Ask whether the attorney you're meeting with will personally appear at your hearings, or whether associate attorneys or paralegals will be doing most of the work. Understand the billing implications of this division of labor.
• How do you handle domestic violence or safety concerns?
  If there is any history of domestic violence or abuse, your attorney must know this from the beginning. Ask about their experience with protective orders (EPO, TPO, Extended Protective Order), safety planning during the divorce process, and how they protect clients' safety and privacy (such as using a P.O. box or third-party address for court filings when safety is a concern).
• What is your strategy if my spouse hides assets or income?
  Financial fraud in divorce (hiding assets, underreporting income) is unfortunately common. Ask whether they use forensic accountants, subpoena financial records, analyze tax returns and lifestyle analyses, or request production of business financials. An attorney experienced in financial discovery can be the difference between a fair division and being cheated out of significant community property.
• What happens to our family home in the divorce?
  The family home is often the largest community asset. Options include: one spouse buys out the other, the home is sold and proceeds divided, or one spouse (usually the custodial parent) is allowed to remain in the home for a period (deferred sale). Ask about the tax implications of each option and which approach is most likely to be ordered or agreed upon given your specific financial situation and mortgage.
• How do you bill for email and phone calls?
  Attorneys who bill in 6-minute increments for every text and email can run up fees very quickly on frequent communicators. Ask specifically about this — some attorneys do not charge for brief check-in calls or emails under a certain length. Understanding this prevents bill shock and helps you manage your communication style strategically to control costs.
• What are the biggest mistakes clients make in family law cases that hurt their outcomes?
  An attorney who has handled many cases will have a clear answer to this question: posting on social media, disparaging the other parent in front of the children, making large financial transfers before filing, violating temporary orders, and failing to document violations by the other party. This question reveals both their experience and their willingness to educate you as a client.
• Under what circumstances would you recommend settling vs. going to trial?
  Family law trials are expensive, stressful, and unpredictable. Most experienced attorneys know when a case can be resolved through negotiation or mediation and when fighting through trial is necessary to achieve a fair outcome. An attorney who recommends trial for every contested issue may be generating fees; an attorney who always pushes settlement may be avoiding the hard work of trial preparation. Ask for their philosophy and past examples.