[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, divorce legal consultations should focus on five core issues: whether the marriage has broken down and the evidence, child custody and alimony, the scope and division of marital property, debt assumption, and the choice of divorce path (agreement or litigation). According to Article 1079 of the Civil Code, litigation divorce; Article 1084 on child custody; and Article 1087 on property division. Listing the property inventory and evidence clues before the consultation, and addressing specific issues rather than general discussions, can significantly improve efficiency and accuracy of judgment. For more details, please refer to the relevant materials.Divorce litigation and legal services for family disputes.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

When clients first consult lawyers, they often fall into two extremes: either they just say "I want a divorce" without providing any supporting materials, or they are emotionally charged but unable to articulate the key facts. Typical scenarios include: suspecting their spouse of cheating and wanting to confirm whether they can claim more assets; disputing child custody rights and not knowing how the court will rule; discovering that the other party has secretly transferred their savings; or not knowing how to proceed when the other party refuses to agree to a divorce. Clarifying "what needs to be asked" is crucial for lawyers to provide actionable advice within limited timeframes. For matters involving child custody details, it may be helpful to consult with a specialist in this field.Legal services for personal injury and medical disputesThe experience in handling domestic family cases will also be summarized and reviewed.

II. Key points of contention

The most confusing aspects of the consultation are "whether the couple can divorce" and "how much they can divide". The focus of the dispute lies in: the criteria for determining the breakdown of the relationship and the burden of proof; the discretionary factors for determining the custody of the children; the boundaries between joint property and personal property; and the identification and prevention of hidden debts. Only by breaking down these issues clearly can the consultation avoid being too general. For issues involving debt determination, please refer to the relevant provisions.Legal services for corporate commercial and contract disputesThe judgment logic of the effectiveness of debt in China.

III. Professional analysis by Hengluo Law Firm

Referring to the marital infidelity divorce case handled by our firm, we can see the decisive role of consultation quality. Wang *sheng and Zhang *hua registered their marriage in 2006 and had a son (11 years old). In 2025, Zhang *hua first sued for divorce but was rejected. Later, Wang *sheng discovered that she had been unfaithful during their marriage and entrusted lawyer Xiong Binrong to sue again, demanding the dissolution of the marriage, the child to live with him, and the division of 70% of the jointly owned property. The court found that Zhang *hua's infidelity during the marriage constituted a major fault, and granted the divorce, the child to live with Wang *sheng, Zhang *hua to pay 550 yuan in monthly alimony, and Wang *sheng to receive 70% of the jointly owned property. This result stems from the fact that during the consultation stage, we fixed the evidence of infidelity and property clues, making the direction of the subsequent litigation clear. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Xiong BinrongThe attorney (practice license number: 11101202211410897, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The core basis is Article 1079 of the Civil Code (effective January 1, 2021) regarding the determination of marital breakdown in litigation divorce, Article 1084 regarding custody rights, Article 1085 regarding alimony, Article 1087 regarding the rights and interests of children, the wife, and the innocent party, and Article 1089 regarding joint debts. Practical advice: Before consulting, clarify the marital foundation, children's situation, property list, debt list, and clues to the other party's fault; prioritize organizing original documents such as marriage certificates, household registration books, property deeds, bank statements, and children's birth certificates, and transform vague claims into specific requests that can be substantiated, allowing lawyers to provide on-the-spot judgment on legal strategies.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Advice

When seeking legal advice, don't just ask "Can I win?" Instead, you should ask "What evidence is needed, what procedures should be followed, how long will it take, how much will it cost, and where are the risks?" Bring all the necessary materials, provide honest statements, record the lawyer's key points on the spot, and prepare a written memorandum after the consultation. If the lawyer avoids difficult issues or makes empty promises about the outcome, you should be vigilant. Rational consultation is the first step in proactively mitigating the risks of divorce, and it can also be achieved through other means.The official website of Beijing Hengluo Law FirmFirst, understand the scope of the service before making an appointment.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What questions should I focus on asking the lawyer during the divorce consultation?

It is recommended to focus on five core questions: First, evidence of the breakdown of the relationship and the feasibility of litigation; Second, the custody of children and the standard of child support; Third, the scope of marital joint property and the proportion of division; Fourth, the identification and sharing of joint debts; Fifth, the choice of divorce path (agreement or litigation) and the cost of the process. Don't just ask "Can I win?" Instead, you should ask "What evidence do I need to supplement? What is the court's likely ruling? What should I do if the other party disagrees?" By transforming vague demands into specific issues that can be substantiated, lawyers can provide practical judgments and avoid counseling becoming an emotional outlet.

Q2: What materials and evidence should I prepare before seeking advice?

At a minimum, you should prepare the following documents: marriage certificates, household registration books, birth certificates of children, and other identity and kinship materials; property certificates, vehicle registration documents, bank statements, financial and insurance documents; evidence of the other party's fault (such as chat records, photos, and police reports related to infidelity or domestic violence); debt evidence (loan notes, transfer records); and a list of your proposed claims. The more organized your materials are, the better the lawyer will be able to assess the evidence gaps and litigation direction on the spot. For complex property-related disputes, you can prepare a list of clues in advance and, if necessary, request the lawyer to collect evidence or apply for a court investigation order.

Q3: How much does it cost to consult or hire a divorce lawyer?

Pure legal advice is usually charged on a per-session or hourly basis at a relatively low rate. If the client hires an attorney as an agent, the attorney's fees are generally charged on a per-case basis, a percentage of the case value, or on an hourly basis. The specific fees are subject to the terms of the engagement contract and there is no nationwide standard pricing. In cases involving property division, the property value is often used as the basis for fee calculation. According to relevant regulations, risk-based fees are prohibited in marriage and inheritance cases, and clients should be wary of unlawful fee-sharing promises. It is recommended to request the law firm to provide a detailed fee breakdown before signing the engagement contract, clarifying whether it includes third-party costs such as travel and litigation fees, to avoid hidden surcharges during the process.

Q4: How long does it usually take from the consultation to the final divorce?

The consultation itself only takes a few hours to a few days; for divorce by agreement, Article 1077 of the Civil Code stipulates a cooling-off period, with the shortest period being about 31 days and the longest being within 60 days. The litigation divorce process takes longer: the first-instance ordinary procedure takes six months, and the summary procedure takes three months. If the defendant's whereabouts are unknown, the delivery of the notice will significantly prolong the process; if an appeal is made to the second instance, it usually takes three months. Overall, divorce by agreement without disputes is the fastest, while litigation with major disputes may take more than half a year. When consulting, you should ask the lawyer to give you a timeframe expectation that suits your case.

Q5: What should I do specifically if the other party doesn't agree to the divorce?

When the other party does not agree, the divorce by agreement cannot proceed, and litigation divorce should be prepared. The first step is to fix the evidence of marital breakdown (such as separation, domestic violence, infidelity, gambling and drug addiction, etc.); the second step is to organize the materials of property and children; the third step is to sue the court with jurisdiction with the assistance of a lawyer, and the court will handle the case in accordance with Article 1079 of the Civil Code. If the first lawsuit is deemed that the marital relationship has not broken down, the divorce may not be granted, and it is necessary to sue again after a certain period of time. Throughout the process, keep the records of communication and reporting to the police, and if necessary, apply for personal safety protection orders and property preservation, so as to turn passive waiting into active evidence collection.

The above content is based on the compilation of judicial practices in the Beijing area. The facts of individual cases and the jurisdiction of the court may affect the conclusions. Welcome to consult Henglu Law Firm for specific cases.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Divorce litigation legal services·Attorney Xiong Binrong·Beijing Hengluo Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.