What Should a Family Law Letter Say?

A family law letter should be short, calm, and discreet, because it reaches someone in a private and stressful moment, and other people in the household may see it. State who you are, that you noticed a case on file, and how to reach you. This is a content checklist, not legal advice.

What should it include?

• Your name and firm, and that you are an attorney.
• A plain reference to a court case, which is public record. Consider leaving the type of case out of the outside of an envelope or postcard, since others may read it.
• One next step: a phone number and hours.

What should it avoid?

• Taking a side. The reader may be either spouse, petitioner or respondent.
• Fear or pressure. Utah's current advertising rule bars coercion or harassment of a prospective client; see what governs direct mail now.
• Outcome promises or legal conclusions about custody, support, or property.

What about sensitive cases?

For a protective order or stalking case, think about whose address you are writing to. The petitioner may not want contact at a shared address. See protective order cases in Utah courts.

Letter or postcard?

A letter in an envelope is more private than a postcard that anyone can read. That is a judgment call for your practice. Letter or postcard: which to use compares them.

How do you send it?

Upload it once and Revenue Spark mails it for each new lead. Leads are $0.50 each; see pricing and direct mail for family law attorneys.

For the copywriting research behind this, and how to test your own versions, see how to write an effective letter for your law firm.