Summarise a Complicated Family Situation Into a Clear Account for a Professional

You have 15 minutes with the solicitor, the mediator, or the social worker. You need them to understand a complicated situation quickly. This structures what you know into a clear, factual account: who is involved, what happened, where things stand, and what you need help with. Removes the detail that does not matter and keeps everything the professional actually needs.

Write down the key facts of your family situation as it relates to a professional you are about to see: a solicitor, a mediator, a financial adviser, a social worker, a GP, or a school. Include: the people involved and their relationships, the key events in chronological order, the current state of affairs, the main concern you need help with, and any decisions that have already been made. Then summarise it into a clear, factual account of under 250 words that the professional can read quickly to understand the situation before you speak. Remove emotional language and anything not directly relevant to what the professional needs to know.