10 things to bring to your initial consultation with a divorce lawyer
- 1. Prepare your Schedule of Assets and Debts ...
- 2. Prepare your Income and Expense Declaration ...
- 3. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the divorce lawyer ...
- 4. Tax Returns ...
- 5. Self-employment documents ...
- 6. List out the relevant facts about your case ...
- 7. Ask the attorney for his or her client intake sheet in advance of the meeting ...
- 8. Information about the other party ...
Full Answer
How to Prepare for a Divorce Attorney Consultation
If you’ve landed on our website, you are most likely considering a divorce, or at least a separation.
Choosing a Divorce Attorney
Before hiring someone to represent you in a divorce proceeding, you may wish to meet with several different attorneys in order to compare costs or to get a feel for which one best fits your needs and goals.
Checklist: What to Bring to Your Divorce Lawyer Consultation
Certain information/documents will be useful to have when discussing your case.
Possible Alternatives to a Formal Divorce Proceeding
At our first meeting, we can also discuss possible alternatives to a formal divorce proceeding, such as mediation or collaborative law.
What is initial divorce consultation?
Your initial divorce attorney consultation will help you prepare for your divorce, but how do you prepare for a divorce consultation? We'll break down what to expect and what to bring to your consultation.
What is a consultation with an attorney?
Your consultation is your chance to ask your attorney some important questions. You might have an idea of how things are going to go, but it's important to have an open line of communication with your attorney.
How Do You Know if a Lawyer is the One?
As a result, it's imperative that you choose an attorney who understands your needs, both psychologically and financially.
How to prepare for a consultation?
You should prepare for your consultation by bringing as much documentation as possible. If you don't bring anything, your attorney will have a harder time evaluating your case.
What documents are needed for a marriage?
You should bring any legal paperwork that is relevant to your marriage. This might include: 1 Prenuptial agreements 2 You and your children's social security cards and passports 3 Birth certificates of children 4 Documents from any prior legal proceedings involving your children or spouse 5 Separation agreements
Why is it important to have a financial consultation?
It's important for both parties to have a clear understanding of their shared assets, debts, and incomes.
What documents are needed for divorce?
You may have records or other legal documents that can impact your case in a divorce, so it’s crucial to share this information during a divorce consultation. Things like: 1 Your marriage license 2 Prenuptial agreements 3 Children’s birth certificates 4 Wills and living wills 5 Power of attorney forms 6 Any other legal records that relate to your or your spouse, such as police reports or relevant contracts
How to find the right representation for divorce?
The best way to find the right representation and to build your strongest case is to have an open, honest conversation during your divorce consultation. Find lawyers in your area to meet with so you can start planning your future.
Why is it important to have a divorce attorney write down?
It’s better to have it written down to reduce the chance that you forget to say something you wanted to include. Include information on: The more facts a divorce attorney has when you first meet with them, the more accurately they can begin to set your expectations for the proceedings.
What is a power of attorney?
Power of attorney forms. Any other legal records that relate to your or your spouse, such as police reports or relevant contracts. These documents will help your divorce attorney know where the opportunities and obstacles are in helping you achieve what you want out of your divorce proceedings.
Is divorce a daunting experience?
Taking the first steps in a divorce can be a daunting experience. Each divorce, like each relationship, is different, so while parts of the process may be predictable, there are always variables that create specific needs and circumstances that can be harder to anticipate.
Can a lawyer help you with divorce?
While divorce may be common, when you go through it yourself, you still deserve dedicated, personal focus on your rights and unique situation. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you figure out the best way forward, explain the law, and represent you in court if it is ever necessary.
Do you bring bills and savings to your spouse?
If either you or your spouse are self-employed, or if you own a business together, bring bills and savings information from your businesses as well.
What evidence is needed to file for a fault based divorce?
In that case, any evidence such as pictures, videos, messages, social media posts, and other supporting documents that will help prove your case are important.
What happens if you don't bring information to a consultation?
Even if you do not bring the information with you to the consultation, you will still have to produce the documents eventually for the process to move quickly. Here are some of the documents that you should bring.
How to prepare yourself for a prenuptial agreement?
To best prepare yourself to discuss your situation, you should know information about income and bank account balances. Your attorney will want to find out of you have a prenuptial agreement. Also, do you or your spouse have premarital assets, and has anyone of you received an inheritance while you both married? The attorney will use the information you give, so they provide you with guidance. Depending on the specifics of your case, your attorney will tell you if you need a witness or witnesses.
How long do you have to bring pay stubs to divorce?
At least bring with you pay stubs worth three months.
What are alternative dispute resolutions?
Other forms of alternative dispute resolutions aside from traditional litigation are the collaborative divorce process, also known as arbitration and mediation. Experienced divorce attorneys will give you information on how long traditional litigation will take if pursued and court procedures involving the process.
What is initial consultation?
An initial consultation is for the purpose of gathering information and get legal advice about the circumstances of your situation. In the initial consultation, you are the one who will be doing most of the talking. Your potential divorce lawyer will be gathering information about the case from you and will ask you several questions so they can recommend solutions.
What to do if a lawyer is not comfortable working your case?
Are they comfortable working your case? If they are not, you can move on to the next lawyer.
What is an intake form for family law?
Most family law lawyers have an intake form that gives them a snapshot of the issues and your goals, and gives them important details about you and your family. At McCabe Russell, we don’t require you to fill it out our intake form advance, but if you can, it helps us move forward. Agreements.
Do you need a mortgage statement and a copy of deed?
Mortgage Statement and/or Copy of Deed. It’s not uncommon for clients not to know what is owing on their own mortgage or even whether they are on the mortgage. Bringing a mortgage statement and a copy of the deed can help your lawyer determine the answers to these important questions.
A Factual Outline of Your Marriage and Reason For Divorce
- The first thing you should make sure you have when you consult with a divorce lawyer is an outline of the facts you want to share with them. You may feel like you know the story of your marriage well enough, but it can be easy for important information or details you wanted to share to slip your mind when you have so much to consider and work through during a consultation. It'…
Financial Documents
- Your divorce attorney will also need to understand your financial information to begin planning for your divorce process. Everything from splitting assets to alimony paymentsto child custody arrangements can be impacted by the details of your financials, and your spouse's, so you'll need to share that information with your attorney as soon as possible. Financial documents to bring t…
Copies of Important Legal Documents
- You may have records or other legal documents that can impact your case in a divorce, so it's crucial to share this information during a divorce consultation. Things like: 1. Your marriage license 2. Prenuptial agreements 3. Children's birth certificates 4. Wills and living wills 5. Power of attorney forms 6. Any other legal records that relate to ...
A List of Questions and Goals
- You don't want to risk forgetting to ask an important question, whether it's about your options in your divorce or about the attorney you're considering hiring to represent you. Don't feel like any question you have is too small or seems too silly— it's important to find the right divorce attorney for you and for you to feel comfortable and aware of the process. If you want to know somethin…
Confidentiality During A Divorce Consultation
- It may feel risky to divulge so much information to an attorney you haven't decided to hire yet. But rest assured, most of the legal rules around attorney-client privilege begin with your first consultation, even if you never hire that attorney to represent you, and even if the consultation is free and you never pay them any money. This is so you can have the security to speak openly in …
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