You’re booked. Here’s how to get the most out of your family law consultation.
Thank you for scheduling with Hunsinger Law Group. Please take five minutes to read this page before we meet. It covers your appointment details, how our fees work, what to have ready, and how to tell whether we’re the right fit for you.
Your booking details
Your appointment
Your date, time, and Zoom link are in your confirmation email.
Please check your confirmation email now and add the appointment to your calendar.
Before the call
- Check the time zone. Our offices run on Central Time.
- Test Zoom on the device you’ll use.
- Plan to join a few minutes early.
During the call
- Join from a private, quiet place. Not from work and not while driving.
- Please don’t have children in the room.
- Don’t invite your spouse or the other parent. We meet with one side only.
If plans change
- Use the reschedule or cancel link in your confirmation email.
- Please give us as much notice as you can so another family can use the time.
- Questions? Email info@hlawgrp.com.
Why families choose Hunsinger Law Group
Missouri and Illinois
We have offices in St. Louis and Chicago and handle family law matters in both states, which matters when a case, a move, or a parent crosses the river.
We know how courts see children
Our attorneys also serve as court-appointed guardians ad litem and child representatives. That gives us a working view of how judges evaluate a child’s best interests.
Practical, not just legal
We help you sort what needs attention now from what can wait, and we talk openly about how each choice affects your costs.
Prices you can see
We publish our fees. You’ll know what it takes to start before you hire us, and you’ll get regular invoices showing the work we did.
Want to know who you might be working with? Meet our team.
What it costs to hire us
There is no obligation to hire us after your consultation. If you do, here is how it works.
| Matter | To start | How it’s billed |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce, custody, or child support | Option A: $2,000 to start, then $500 per month in automatic deposits Option B: $5,000 to start, with no monthly deposits |
Hourly, billed against your retainer |
| Order of protection | $2,500 (no payment plan, because these cases move fast) | Hourly, billed against your retainer |
A retainer is a starting deposit, not the total cost of your case
For hourly cases, your payment goes into a client trust account. We bill our time against it and send you invoices. The total depends on how your case goes, especially whether the other side agrees or fights.
About Option A: your $500 monthly deposit is drawn automatically, and any invoice balance left after trust funds are applied is charged automatically. The $500 is not a cap on your monthly legal costs. Option B skips the monthly deposits but may still require more funds later.
Unused trust funds are refunded when your case ends. Cases with heavy litigation, high complexity, or urgent deadlines may need a higher retainer and may not qualify for monthly deposits. We’ll tell you before you hire us. Full terms are in our fee schedule and your engagement agreement.
Is HLG the right fit for you?
Being honest about fit saves everyone time. Take a quick look before we meet.
We’re likely a good fit if
- Your case is in Missouri or Illinois.
- You can start with $2,000 plus monthly deposits, or $5,000 up front.
- You want candid advice, including when we think a fight isn’t worth the cost.
- You’re ready to gather documents and respond to our requests.
- You care about your children’s stability as much as winning.
We may not be the right fit if
- Your case is outside Missouri and Illinois.
- You need someone to promise a specific result. No honest lawyer can.
- Starting costs are out of reach right now. Free help may be available from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri or Illinois Legal Aid Online.
- Your spouse or the other parent has already spoken with our firm.
If something above gives you pause, email info@hlawgrp.com before your appointment. We’re happy to answer questions, and if you decide to cancel, that frees the time for someone else.
How to prepare
You don’t need a full case file. Having these ready helps us give you real answers in the time we have:
The basics
- Full names of you, the other party, and any children
- Which county you and the children live in
- A short timeline of what’s happening
Court information
- Whether a case has been filed, and the case number
- Any court dates or deadlines
- Copies of any orders or papers you’ve been served
Your goals
- What matters most to you
- Your top three questions
- Your budget for legal fees
Have documents nearby, but please don’t send sensitive records through a website form or email unless we ask. If we work together, we’ll give you a secure way to share them.
What happens during and after the consultation
- We listen. You tell us what’s happening and what you want. We ask focused questions.
- We give you a plan. We explain your options, likely next steps, and which payment option fits your case.
- You decide. There’s no pressure. If you want to hire us, we email you an engagement agreement to sign online and a secure link for your first payment.
- We get to work. Your representation begins once we receive both your signed agreement and your first payment. If you chose monthly deposits, we’ll send a secure link to set up your payment method.
Common questions
Can a friend or family member join the call?
We recommend joining alone. Having another person present can affect the confidentiality of what you tell us. If you need someone with you, please ask us first.
Will you tell me what my case will cost in total?
We’ll give you our honest view of what drives cost in your situation. Because most family cases are billed hourly, the total depends on how much the case is disputed, so we can’t promise a final number.
Can I make payments?
Yes. For divorce, custody, and support cases, Option A lets you start with $2,000 and add $500 per month. Orders of protection require the full $2,500 up front.
What if it isn’t working out?
You’re never locked in. You can end our representation at any time, and any unused money in your trust account is refunded. You’ll get regular invoices, so you always know where your retainer stands. And you start with a free consultation and as little as $2,000.
Does booking a consultation make HLG my lawyer?
No. We aren’t your attorneys, and we aren’t handling any deadlines, until you’ve signed an engagement agreement and made your first payment.
Questions before we meet?
Our team is glad to help.