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It is highly recommended that you consult a lawyer for the following reasons: 

1. Issues of property division and child custody can be daunting areas of law to understand. A lawyer can advise you on your rights and options, including estimated cost and timeframe. 
2. Legal matters can become very complex particularly in relation to the service of documents on your spouse/civil union partner, for example where that person is overseas or their location is unknown. 
3. There are a significant number of forms which need to be filled out and filed in court throughout the legal process; lawyers have the skills to complete this process much faster than the average person, making the whole experience easier and less stressful for you. This will also reduce the risk of mistakes being made, causing undue cost and delay.

It may be a good idea to have a mental or written checklist of questions to ask Jeremy at a first meeting. Some useful suggestions are below. Add to the list any questions that are specific to your circumstances. 

1. What is the training and experience of the lawyers who will be working on my case? 
2. How many cases like mine has your firm handled in the past year? 
3. What do you think my case is going to cost? 
4. What are your policies with regard to: payment of fees, returning phone calls, providing copies of all correspondence and other documents, keeping me informed about the progress of my case? 
5. How long will I wait to get an appointment when I need to come in again? What hours are you available on the telephone and in the office? 
6. Are my goals realistic? What problems can you foresee? How will we solve those problems? 
7. How will you help me to accomplish my goals? How long will it all take? 
8. How often do you go to court? Do you prefer litigating a case or settling the case?

Under New Zealand law, a marriage (or civil union) cannot be dissolved unless you have been separated from your spouse for two or more years. Once you have been separated for this period, you may apply to the Family Court for your marriage (or civil union) to be dissolved. You will need to file an affidavit to support your application. You only need to appear before a Judge if your spouse chooses to defend your application.