Short answer: In California family law, “conversion” is the move from a consultation or prospective-client contact to an agreed attorney service. It is not complete because a lawyer sounded interested, sent a fee quote, or accepted documents. The parties must identify the service, clear conflicts, agree on fees and responsibilities, and complete the firm’s acceptance process. Until then, do not assume the lawyer is monitoring a hearing or deadline.
For a focused interview checklist, see questions to ask before hiring a divorce attorney.
What conversion means under California rules
The first contact can create duties to a prospective client even when no engagement follows. California Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 1.18, protects information learned in a consultation and can restrict a later adverse representation when the lawyer received information that could significantly harm the prospective client. That is why a firm may ask only for names and a short description before completing a conflict check. Do not send a full evidence file through an unsecured intake form.
For a later conflict question, Flatt v. Superior Court (1994) explains California’s strict loyalty rule when a lawyer holds confidential information from a former client in a substantially related matter. Rule 1.18 separately governs prospective-client contacts.
An attorney-client relationship is a separate question. Ask what event makes the engagement effective: a signed agreement, payment of an initial deposit, written acceptance, or a combination. Ask who the client is, whether the firm represents anyone connected with the dispute, and whether the consultation was advice-only. A preliminary assessment is not a promise to represent you.
For many California legal services, Business and Professions Code section 6148 makes a written fee contract important when the reasonably foreseeable total expense, including attorney fees, will exceed $1,000, subject to statutory exceptions. Ask for the agreement before work begins. It should make the scope, rates or flat fee, costs, billing practices, advance deposit, and termination process understandable. A deposit is not the same as earned fees; ask how it is held and when it may be applied.
A California consultation-to-service workflow
1. Screen the matter and identify the decision
Give the lawyer the forum, case number if one exists, relationship of the parties, and next event. Say whether a petition was filed, a summons served, an order entered, or another lawyer contacted. A hearing, attempted service, proposed move, threatened transfer of money, or safety issue can change the service needed. Ask:
- What information would change the recommendation?
- Is the requested service advice only, document preparation, negotiation, a court appearance, or full case management?
- Which deadline is the firm accepting responsibility for, if any?
- What should I preserve or avoid doing before the next step?
2. Match the service to the decision
The conversion decision is not simply “hire” or “do not hire.” Full-scope service may cover pleadings, discovery, negotiation, appearances, and case administration. Limited-scope service may cover one task, such as reviewing an agreement, preparing a motion, or coaching a hearing. Consultation-only work ends after the agreed meeting or advice. Ask who drafts, serves, files, appears, communicates with the other side, and watches each deadline.
For limited scope, ask whether the court and other parties must receive a notice identifying the assistance. California Rules of Court, rule 5.425 and Judicial Council form FL-950 address notice of limited scope representation. The form does not decide what your private agreement includes. State the task’s start and end, what you must do, and how either side ends it. Limited scope does not transfer responsibility for an unlisted task to the lawyer.
3. Convert the advice into written terms
Ask for a matter description specific enough to test against the immediate need. “Review settlement proposal and advise on community-property and support issues” is different from “represent me in the dissolution.” Ask whether the firm will prepare or review a petition, summons, response, request for order, or agreement; a form reference is not acceptance of filing or service. If the firm will file FL-100 and arrange service of FL-110, the scope should say so.
Check the fee structure, initial deposit, hourly rates for lawyers and staff, billing increments, separate costs, replenishment rules, and what happens if the deposit runs out. Ask whether work outside scope requires a new agreement. If a court fee request is relevant, Family Code section 2030 concerns need-based access to counsel; it does not itself retain a lawyer or guarantee that a court will award fees. Do not treat a possible fee order as permission to delay payment or ignore the contract.
4. Confirm acceptance and handoff
Before relying on the conversion, obtain the signed agreement or other written confirmation, payment instructions, assigned contacts, and first deliverable. Ask when the firm receives the file and whether it will calendar a hearing or deadline. Send records through the secure channel; keep originals, preserve messages and metadata, and identify disputed or missing information.
Example: why the distinction matters
Suppose a lawyer reviews a proposed marital-settlement agreement during a paid consultation. The client assumes the lawyer is also preparing a response and attending next week’s hearing. Unless the firm accepted that task in writing, the consultation may not have converted into representation for the hearing. Ask: “What will you do by what date, and what remains mine?” The same problem arises when a firm reviews a filing but does not serve it or appear.
Focused conversion checklist
Before accepting service, confirm:
- the client identity, conflict result, and confidentiality expectations;
- the exact task, first deliverable, exclusions, and end point;
- who handles filing, service, court notices, communications, and deadlines;
- rates, deposit handling, costs, invoices, replenishment, and termination;
- the secure document channel and the records still needed; and
- the written event that makes the engagement effective.
If any answer is missing, pause the conversion and request clarification rather than infer it from a website, invoice, email signature, or a lawyer’s general comment. A responsible lawyer can identify assumptions and unknowns; no lawyer can guarantee a custody result, settlement, judge’s decision, or fixed timeline.
Practical next steps
- State the service decision, forum, case number, and next date.
- Request a conflict-safe intake and send only the records needed for screening.
- Ask for written scope, fee terms, deposit handling, and responsibility for each deadline.
- Sign and pay only after confirming the agreement matches the requested service.
- Obtain written acceptance, the assigned contact, and the first deliverable.
- Calendar every task that the agreement leaves with you.