When you meet with a divorce lawyer for the first time it is essential to be prepared. This means you want to come to the meeting with the right tools in order to ensure a smooth process. There are several things you need to do before you appear for the first meeting. Some of those things are listed below.
Documents to Bring with You
When you meet with a divorce lawyer for the first time, there are some documents you need to assemble and bring with you to that initial consultation. The most important documents include the following:
- Tax returns (these are helpful in making a potential assessment for alimony and/or child support)
- All retirement plan details (this tends to be some of the largest assets and therefore is most likely to provide the most current view of your financial situation)
- All statements of bank balances and investments
- Prenuptial and/or post nuptial agreements
- Credit card statements
- Recent pay stubs for both parties in order to provide a current picture of family income
- Deeds to any real estate you own
Prepare Notes Ahead of Time
You will need to provide the lawyer with any essential information that relates to both your personal and business background before you meet for the first time. Make notes about any facts you believe are important in your case such as:
- A timeline of your marriage and the events that led to the decision to file for divorce
- Information about your children
- If applicable, information on previous marriages and divorces
- Most important issues in the divorce (timesharing/custody, property division, business assets, etc.)
- Any other issues that may have an impact on the divorce such as drug or alcohol abuse, physical or sexual abuse, criminal history, etc.
In order to make sure you protect your privacy, you want to make sure you label each page of the timeline with the words “ATTORNEY – CLIENT PRIVILEGE INFORMATION.” This information should be in the lawyer’s hands prior to the first meeting in order to allow him or her to review it before your meeting and prepare accordingly.
Be Prepared with Questions
During this initial meeting you have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers to any questions you have about your divorce. This is also the perfect chance to learn more about the lawyer and how he or she operates. You can ask about any relevant work experience the attorney has, the cost of the services you require, how the lawyer feels about the use of a mediator, and anything else that is important to you. Make a list of any and all questions and concerns that come into your mind.
Even though you may be anxious about your future after the divorce, you can ease your mind when you prepare for the road that lies ahead. This begins with being confident and coming prepared to the first meeting with the divorce lawyer.