Legal Question in Family Law in California

You are not "represented" until you file or respond to a court action, showing that you are represented by an attorney or you and your attorney file a substitution of attorney making him or her your attorney in your case. Getting advice from an attorney without informing your spouse, or even having him or her prepare the paperwork, is not illegal.

Mr. Walker is right. You are not represented by an attorney until they actually step forward and represent you. Unless and until that happens there is nothing illegal about obtaining legal advice without disclosing that fact. In fact it is protected by the attorney/client privilege until the privilege is waived as to that fact when they step forward and represent you.