[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, divorce counseling should cover four core aspects: the breakdown of the marriage and the conditions for divorce, child custody and visitation arrangements, the division of jointly owned property, and debt and fault compensation. According to Article 1079 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China on the standards for granting a divorce, Article 1084 on the principles of child custody, and Article 1087 on the principles of property division, lawyers will provide feasible solutions based on evidence and jurisdiction. It is most effective to bring along the marriage certificate, property clues, and child-related materials during the consultation. At the same time, attention should be paid to whether the power of attorney and fees are transparent. It is recommended to prepare a list of questions in advance to improve communication efficiency. For more details, please refer to the following link:Divorce litigation and family dispute resolution services.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

Before visiting a law firm, clients often don't know what to ask. Some just want to know "whether they can divorce", but neglect arrangements for property and children; some are too worried about the fees to dare to ask more questions; and some even lack evidence and can't even find their marriage certificates. Typical consultation scenarios include: how to file a lawsuit again after being ruled against divorce in the first instance; how to deal with the other party transferring property; who will get custody of the children; and whether the premarital property will be divided. The quality of the consultation directly determines the subsequent strategy. For cross-regional or specialized disputes, further consultation may be necessary.Special services and other case servicesCoordinate with the expert team.

II. Key points of contention

There are three common misunderstandings in the consultation phase. Firstly, the boundaries of consultation: lawyers can provide legal analysis and pathways, but they cannot make unrealistic promises about the outcome. Be wary of claims of "guaranteed victory". Secondly, material preparation: only by bringing all necessary documents and clues can we reach valuable conclusions. Empty talk is hard to put into practice. Thirdly, fee transparency: the billing method and scope should be clarified before entrusting the lawyer, and private transfers should be rejected. For cases involving corporate equity or contractual rights, reference can be made to relevant legal provisions or precedents.Business and contract dispute services for enterprisesDetermine the nature of the property.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

Take the foreign-related double marriage and marriage invalidation case handled by our firm as an example. Li Xiang and Li Li registered their marriage in Xicheng District, Beijing in 2018. After marriage, Li Li subjected Li Xiang to domestic violence for a long time, causing Li Xiang to suffer from moderate depression. Li Xiang entrusted lawyer Xiong Binrong of Henglue Law Firm to sue, and the lawyer found during the investigation that Li Li had registered her marriage with a Swedish man in 2014 and the Swedish court ruled a divorce in January 2018, but she failed to apply for recognition of the divorce by the intermediate court in accordance with Chinese law. Therefore, the previous marriage was not dissolved under Chinese law, constituting double marriage. The lawyer decisively changed the claim to confirm the invalidity of the marriage. After completing the overseas evidence collection, Shunyi Court ruled the marriage invalid on April 30, 2026. In another case of marital infidelity, after discovering that Zhang Hua was unfaithful, Wang *sheng entrusted lawyer Xiong Binrong to sue again. The court ruled that Zhang Hua should divide 70% of the joint property and obtain custody rights in accordance with the principle of "protecting the innocent party". This case was handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.Xiong BinrongThe lawyer (practice license number: 11101202211410897, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

IV. Practical Suggestions and Legal Basis

The legal basis is Article 1079 of the Civil Code (effective January 1, 2021) (criteria for granting a divorce), Article 1084 (the principle that child support should be in the best interests of the minors), Article 1087 (division of jointly owned property), Article 1092 (division of less or no fault), as well as the provisions of the Lawyers Law regarding unified charging by law firms and prohibition of false promises. Practical advice: List the issues before consultation; bring along your ID card, marriage certificate, and materials related to property and children; truthfully state the facts and evidence; clarify the charging method and the stages of representation; and stay vigilant against unrealistic promises of victory. For cases involving complex property issues, you may seek assistance from a professional.Special services and other case-related servicesObtain cross-team support.

5. Henglue Law Firm's Reminder

A good divorce consultation lies in "asking comprehensively and explaining clearly". In addition to the conditions for divorce, it is essential to simultaneously clarify the four main issues of child custody and visitation, property and debt division, and fault compensation, to avoid focusing on one point while missing key rights and interests. When consulting, provide evidence clues truthfully. The more complete the materials are, the more accurate the conclusions will be; at the same time, pay attention to whether the contract of entrustment is stamped by the law firm, whether the fees are written into the contract, and whether private transfers are refused. Remember that regular lawyers will not make false promises about the outcome, and you should be vigilant when encountering the rhetoric of "guaranteed victory". It is recommended to bring a list of questions to the consultation to improve communication efficiency and decision-making quality.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: I want to consult a lawyer about divorce. Can they help me ensure that the divorce will go through successfully?

It is not allowed, nor should such promises be made. According to the "Lawyers Law" and professional norms, lawyers are not allowed to make false or guaranteed winning promises about the outcome of the case. A regular lawyer will objectively analyze the possibility and risks of divorce, rather than making empty guarantees. Whether a divorce can be granted depends on whether the marital relationship has truly broken down and whether the evidence is sufficient. For example, if there are statutory circumstances such as domestic violence, bigamy, or separation for a certain period of time, the probability of divorce will be higher. During the consultation, more attention should be paid to whether the lawyer can clarify the legal relationship, key evidence, and procedural nodes, rather than promising the outcome. We should remain vigilant against expressions such as "guaranteed victory" and "100% successful divorce", and rationally evaluate the plan.

Q2: When consulting a divorce lawyer, what materials should I bring with me?

It is recommended to bring the following documents: both parties' ID cards and marriage certificates (to prove the subject and the marital relationship), the child's birth certificate and materials proving the current custody status, property ownership certificates and purchase contracts, bank deposit and financial transaction records, property clues such as vehicles and equity, as well as evidence of the other party's fault or transfer of property (such as police reports and chat records). If there are premarital assets, bring the account opening and transfer receipts. The more complete the materials are, the more accurately the lawyer can provide advice on divorce, custody, and property division. Even if some materials are missing, you can first bring the available information for consultation, and the lawyer will indicate the direction of supplementation, to avoid empty talk.

Q3: How much does it generally cost to seek divorce counseling and hire a lawyer?

Pure legal advice is usually charged on a per-session or per-hour basis, with fees being relatively manageable. If a formal agency agreement is signed, the lawyer's fees will depend on the complexity of the case, the amount in dispute, and the stage of litigation (first instance, second instance, or enforcement). The fees may be charged on a fixed-fee basis, a percentage of the amount in dispute, or on an hourly basis. The specific fees will be determined by the agency contract, and there is no unified national standard. Some cases involving property relations allow risk-based fees with a percentage cap, while cases related to marriage and inheritance are generally subject to restrictions. It is recommended to request a fee breakdown from the law firm before signing the contract to clarify whether travel and litigation fees are included. Avoid accepting private payments from individuals, and make a decision after comparing fees from multiple sources.

Q4: How long does it usually take from the initial consultation to actually getting a divorce?

The time span is very flexible. For an agreed divorce, it usually takes more than 30 days from the application to the expiration of the cooling-off period; for a litigation divorce, if both parties agree and the facts are clear, the divorce may be mediated or adjudicated within a few months. The first-instance ordinary procedure will be concluded within six months, and the summary procedure within three months. If the first lawsuit is ruled not to be granted a divorce, it is usually necessary to file a lawsuit again after a certain period of separation, and the overall process may span over a year or even longer. The time span will be extended accordingly if it involves custody rights, property investigation, or appeals. When consulting a lawyer, the lawyer will give a preliminary estimate of the time span based on the case circumstances and suggest paying attention to both the collection of evidence and the statute of limitations at the same time.

Q5: What should I specifically prepare for my first consultation about divorce?

It is recommended to prepare in four steps: First, list the problem list, covering five main aspects: divorce judgment, child custody, property, debt, and fault compensation, to avoid omissions; Second, organize and bring along documents and evidence of property, children, and fault. The more complete the materials are, the more accurate the conclusions will be; Third, sort out the timeline of the marriage and key events (registration, separation, major conflicts) in advance, so that the lawyer can grasp the situation quickly; Fourth, confirm the fee method, agency stage, and contract subject on site, and be vigilant against false promises. After the consultation, record the key points in time and arrange for a in-depth evaluation if necessary, so as to make decisions based on complete information.

The above Q&A is mainly based on judicial practice in Beijing. There may be differences in the interpretation of the law in different regions. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer based on the specific circumstances of the case.

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

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public 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.