what to bring to a divorce attorney consultation

What to Bring to Your Divorce Consultation

• A Factual Outline of Your Marriage and Reason for Divorce. The first thing you should make sure you have when you...
• Financial Documents. Your divorce attorney will also need to understand your financial information to begin planning for...
• Copies of Important Legal Documents. You may have records or other legal documents that...

Full Answer

What should you bring to an initial divorce consultation?

You should also bring a copy of your most current paystub, the last 2 years of taxes, and information on any assets belonging to both spouses. Who should come to the divorce consultation? You need as much support as you can get during difficult times such as when you are getting a divorce.

How to prepare for your initial divorce consultation?

Aug 21, 2017 · Here are some of the most useful documents you can bring: Intake Form. Most family law lawyers have an intake form that gives them a snapshot of the issues and your goals, and... Agreements. If you and your spouse signed a prenuptial agreement or a postnuptial agreement (or if you’ve been working... ...

What are good questions to ask a divorce attorney?

Jan 27, 2020 · Stock, bond or other investment account statements, including account balances and account numbers. Statements relating to any debts you may have such as mortgages, credit card accounts, student loans, and other debts. List of …

What to expect during a divorce consultation?

Feb 08, 2022 · As a New Jersey Divorce Lawyer, clients often ask me what they should bring to a consultation. Download Our Free Divorce Guide Helpful items you may want to bring include salary information, as well as general details regarding your assets and liabilities.

What should I wear to a lawyer consultation?

The standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. ... Once your consultation begins, let your attorney guide the meeting.Sep 4, 2019

What to do before asking for a divorce?

Top 10 Things to Do Before You File For a DivorceNever Threaten to Divorce Until You Are Ready To File. ... Organize Your Documents. ... Focus on Your Children. ... Make Sure You Have Three Months of Financial Resources. ... Obtain the Best Legal Advice You Can Get. ... Make Sure You Have Available Credit.More items...•Jan 4, 2022

What are the five stages of divorce?

There are two processes in divorce. The emotional process can be broken down into 5 stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

What year of marriage is most common for divorce?

While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.

Who should file for divorce first?

In legal terms it should have no impact on the eventual outcome whoever starts the divorce process. However, in some circumstances it does make a difference who petitions for divorce. There may be financial implications, for whoever files the petition will incur additional court costs.

How does divorce change a man?

Men experience more health problems in the process and after a divorce. The most common health problems include weight fluctuations, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Men also have the added stress of handling all the finances and identity loss, which makes them much more susceptible to both stroke and heart disease.Jun 23, 2018

How do you feel when divorce is final?

The residual anger, hurt, confusion, depression, and even self-blame don't just disappear once a divorce is finalized. Even if you're the one who pushed for it, divorce still creates all sorts of emotional pain, so don't be surprised if you're still feeling the pain of divorce and struggling to move on in your life.Oct 1, 2020

What is the most important stage of divorce?

The most important stage he's identified may be the transition. While healing is the final stage and the ultimate goal, how long it takes to get to healing, and how smooth the path is, can depend on what route a couple takes in determining how it will divorce.Jul 5, 2016

1. Bring A List of Prepared Questions

Going through a divorce is an emotional process, but don’t let yourself mistake a divorce consultation for a therapy session. Remember, this is a time to ask legal questions and get answers you cannot find from other people.

2. Bring Real Estate Information to Your Divorce Consultation

Make sure you bring along any information about the property you and your partner own. You’ll want to grab things like your escrow papers, mortgage statements, and deeds.

3. Bring Relevant Legal Documents to Your Divorce Consultation

Throughout the length of your marriage, you might have gathered a large amount of legal paperwork. You should bring as many of these relevant documents as you can remember.

4. Bring Pay Stubs and Tax Returns to Your Divorce Consultation

Your lawyer will want to know how much money you and your spouse make for the household. To give them a good idea of how your income breaks out, bring the three most recent paystubs from both you and your partner if possible.

5. Bring Incriminating Evidence (If You Have It) to Your Divorce Consultation

You might not have any incriminating evidence, but if you do, make sure you bring it along. This evidence might include photos, videos, notes/messages, or social media posts relating to the divorce. This evidence might be proof of things like cheating or abuse.

Getting a Divorce Consultation

Make sure you go into your divorce consultation with an open mind. You might want to get certain things out of the divorce, but you might not get them all. Instead, make sure you listen to your lawyer’s expert advice.

What is a 401(k) statement?

401 (k), IRA or other retirement account statements, including account balances and account numbers. Stock, bond or other investment account statements, including account balances and account numbers. Statements relating to any debts you may have such as mortgages, credit card accounts, student loans, and other debts.

Does attorney-client privilege extend to third parties?

However, this attorney-client privilege does not extend to third parties, including anyone you may bring with you to a consultation. A third party who is privy to confidential attorney-client communication may be asked under oath (in a deposition, for example) what the client and attorney discussed and will have to answer.

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

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.

What to ask after a consultation?

After your consultation, you may be asked to do some research to learn as much as you can about your finances, assets, liabilities, and regular expenses. It's important for both parties to have a clear understanding of their shared assets, debts, and incomes. It's also important to note that this meeting is confidential.

Why is being prepared important?

Being Prepared is Key. Being prepared will help give you the best chance to protect your interests during the divorce. In most cases, a client comes in with a list of questions about getting divorced. Papers may have been recently filed or will be filed soon.

What is the goal of hiring an attorney?

For many women, the ‘goal’ of hiring an attorney may simply be “get me outta this marriage!” But honing in on what you want your life to look like after the divorce dust has settled can be a useful tool for identifying how you want to work through the process of ending your marriage.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Most states allow individuals to represent themselves in the divorce process. And, it’s more common than you think: 80 percent of divorces involve at least one party representing themselves. Lots of people go this route – which means you can, too.

Is it a good idea to talk to a lawyer about divorce?

If you’ve made up your mind and there’s no alternative but divorce, talking to at least a few lawyers is always a good idea. The first consultation is usually always free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. But, you can gain a lot of information during attorney interviews if you head into the conversation armed with the right questions.

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 nee…

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Copies of Important Legal Documents

A List of Questions and Goals

Confidentiality During A Divorce Consultation