{"id":30196,"date":"2016-10-11T11:36:11","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T11:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/legal\/practice\/how-to-do-a-child-custody-and-visitation-client-intake.html"},"modified":"2016-10-11T11:59:33","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T11:59:33","slug":"how-to-do-a-child-custody-and-visitation-client-intake","status":"publish","type":"practice","link":"https:\/\/lp.findlaw.com\/legal\/practice\/law-marketing\/how-to-do-a-child-custody-and-visitation-client-intake.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Do a Child Custody and Visitation Client Intake"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One question every solo or small firm attorney asks is, \u201cHow do I get the phone to ring?\u201d The answer to that is endless: everything from in-person networking, to paid search ads. A better question, which many neglect to ask, is, \u201cWhat do I do when the phone rings?\u201d<\/p>\n

For Family Law attorneys who handle child custody and visitation matters, the latter question is even more vital to consider \u2013 how many times have you taken a consult or a call with someone who spends two hours in tears but doesn\u2019t even have bus fare to get home (let alone pay you for your time)? No matter what the source of the lead (referrals, lead-sourcing services, or your own marketing), you have to work the process: screen out unqualified leads, sell them on your expertise and client service, and sign the retainer.<\/p>\n

An effective child custody and visitation intake will screen out unqualified clients and increase your chances of signing the ones that you can help.<\/p>\n

The Two-Step Consultation Process: Screening is a Must<\/b><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have hours to spare on the phone or in person with a tire-kicker. The easiest way to eliminate this issue is to have a two-stage intake process that starts with an administrative assistant screening leads to determine if they are qualified potential clients.<\/p>\n

A proper screening should begin with a conflict check and a few questions about the legal matter to determine whether it is an issue your firm actually deals with. For example, you might get calls about child abuse that require the services of a criminal attorney, rather than a Family Law or Domestic Relations lawyer.<\/p>\n

From there, the screener should go on to ask a series of preliminary questions to qualify the prospect and to gather information for the attorney\u2019s consultation. A few great questions to ask include:<\/p>\n