what to bring to consultation with divorce attorney abuse

5 Things You Should Bring with You to a Divorce Consultation

• 1 – Bring a List of Questions You Have As mentioned, this is the perfect time to ask the divorce lawyer about any questions you may want answers to. ...
• 2 – Consider Bringing Pay Stubs ...
• 3 – If You Have Tax Returns, Bring These ...
• 4 – Bring Prenuptial Agreements and Other Documents Related to Your Marriage ...
• 5 – Any “Incriminating” Evidence ...

Full Answer

What should I bring to my divorce consultation?

For your initial consultation, all you need to bring is your and your spouse's recent bank statements, and a list of assets you each own. This information will allow your consulting lawyer to predict how the court may divide your financial assets in divorce.

What should I ask my divorce lawyer before my consultation?

Before you head to your divorce consultation, write down at least five questions on a piece of paper or your phone. These might vary based on your situation, but they can include asking about the lawyer’s experience, how much they charge, and what you can expect. Do not make the mistake of “remembering them in your head.”

What should I bring to my initial consultation?

Previous years’ tax returns (with attachments). There is a lot of information in a tax return that can be helpful to your attorney. If you can, bring one or two years to your initial consultation. The attachments (W2s, 1099s, etc) can also be very helpful, so don’t omit copying those. Last 3 Paystubs (yours and your spouse’s).

Do divorce lawyers offer free initial consultations?

At Dolci & Weiland, our family law and divorce lawyers offer initial consultations free of charge, which is to your benefit — if you know how to make the most of the opportunity. A complimentary divorce consultation gives you a chance to form expectations for your divorce and to learn what the consulting attorney has to offer.

What questions should I ask at an attorney consultation?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...

How do I prepare my initial consultation with a divorce attorney in Texas?

This first meeting is crucial to the process of divorce in Texas.Relax. ... Be Prepared to Ask Questions. ... Gather Important Financial Documents. ... Be Ready to Discuss Personal Details about Your Life. ... Make a List of Your Goals In Divorce.

What to bring to a house sale with a partner?

You’ll want to grab things like your escrow papers, mortgage statements, and deeds.

Why do you need to review legal documents?

Reviewing these legal documents will allow your lawyer to better understand your situation during the divorce. They will also help your lawyer construct an estimated timeline of the divorce proceedings.

What evidence do you need to get divorced?

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.

Is divorce an emotional process?

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.

What is the goal of a divorce consultation?

When having your divorce consultation, the goal is for you get your questions answered. Likewise, it is also the divorce lawyer’s goal to get a better understanding of your situation so they can best advise on next steps for your divorce. This will also help them to provide timelines and expectations with you.

Is divorce difficult?

We understand that facing divorce is difficult. More often than not, it brings with it negative feelings and emotions. But you don’t have to face it alone. If you are facing divorce, we encourage you to schedule a divorce consultation with our firm. At the end of the day, you want a positive outcome in your case.

Can you get a no fault divorce in Texas?

In the event you are seeking a “fault divorce,” you’ll want to bring any evidence which is considered incriminating. This may include photos, posts on social media, or any other evidence that provides proof of any abuse, cheating, etc. While Texas does allow for “no fault divorces,” this sort of evidence may create weight in your favor ...

Do you need a prenuptial agreement to get divorce?

If you have a prenuptial agreement, this something you will certainly want to bring as it will help in preparation of a divorce agreement. In addition to agreements relating to your marriage, if children are involved, you may also consider bringing their birth certificates.

What is the impact of divorce on retirement?

Pension and Retirement Plans. The retirement funds and plans you receive from divorce will have a significant impact on your post-retirement life. Whether you or your spouse have a pension plan, an Individual Retirement Account, or a 401 (k), the most recent statements from your retirement accounts can allow your lawyer to determine whether you ...

What is a tax return?

A tax return, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive picture of your finances. With the right information, your consulting lawyer can draw a strong expectation of how your income will affect maintenance (alimony) and division of assets.

What is a complimentary divorce consultation?

A complimentary divorce consultation gives you a chance to form expectations for your divorce and to learn what the consulting attorney has to offer. Bringing a few key documents can help you take full advantage of your consultation. The more information you provide your lawyer, the clearer an expectation they can give you for your case.

Why is it important to have a divorce lawyer?

This is important, because while you want a lawyer who can get you the best divorce deal, you also want a lawyer who understands you, your family, and the difficult situation you are going through.

Is it good to have mortgage statements?

Having the mortgage statements, deeds, and documentation of your real estate can be beneficial, but just the value and equity of your real estate property is enough information to bring to your first consultation.

Can you split assets in a divorce?

Assets which are considered marital property are subject to be split in a divorce, while assets considered non-marital property are not. For your initial consultation, all you need to bring is your and your spouse's recent bank statements, and a list of assets you each own.

Do you need to prove income to divorce?

Documentation of Income. During the divorce process, you will be required to proved documentation of your income. For the initial consultation, simply having the numbers at hand is more than sufficient, although having documents such as pay stubs and tax returns never hurt.

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.

Can an attorney give advice to an unrepresented spouse?

The attorney who drafted the agreement for his or her client cannot give the other , unrepresented spouse any legal advice or answer any of their questions about the documents offered other than to recommend if they have such questions they should get their own attorney.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Are Meetings With Lawyers Confidential?

Most potential clients who go to an initial divorce consultation are not sure if they want a divorce. Potential clients want to understand what to expect if they choose to go ahead with the process. The law protects attorney-client communication. This means that the client’s right to privacy is well defined and should be preserved.

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 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 is the purpose of texting your spouse?

It gives the attorney a sense of how you and your spouse or co-parent communicate, and it gives your attorney an opportunity to coach you through good and bad responses.

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.

What information does a credit card statement contain?

Other debt information (car loans, credit card debt, etc). As with the other documents, credit card statements contain a ton of information that can be useful to your attorney – the debt information, of course, but your history of spending (and your spouse’s) can also assist your attorney as you move forward. Text Message History.

What to do if you have been keeping a calendar of events?

Calendars/Journals. If you’ve been keeping a calendar of events or journaling, you should consider bringing those to help jog your memory about timeline and events. Inflammatory Documents. Don’t hold back from your attorney.

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.

Who is Heather from the law firm?

Heather is the firm’s managing partner and divorce law guru. Heather knows all the ins and outs of divorce in Maryland and DC, and she knows exactly what to do to put her clients in a position to accomplish their goals.

Why is it important to have an open mind when getting divorced?

Before you pull into the attorney’s parking lot, repeat this mantra: No two divorces are alike! No two divorces are alike! Having an open mind about the hard things— possible custody schedules, whether or not you need to sell the house, whether or not your family can continue to go on two weeks of vacation each summer— will help your prospective attorney come up with a strategy that meets your long term goals and makes sense for your unique circumstances.

What to ask a divorce lawyer?

What red flags did your story raise for them? What questions is the lawyer asking you about your situation? This question is your chance to 1) make sure they’ve been hearing you and 2) get insights that could help keep your divorce process moving along without surprises.

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.

How long did it take Elizabeth to get divorced?

Having this goal in mind helped keep things moving, and as a result, her divorce took 364 days between her initial filing and final judgment.

How to get money from a prenup consultation?

If you want to get your money’s worth from a consultation, make sure you bring all of the documents associated with your prenup. The same goes if you and your spouse have started working out a separation agreement (or other agreement related to your pending split) in writing.

What does Christy do in a divorce?

For Christy, receiving this information allows her to give the most bang for a potential client’s buck in terms of an initial consultation. She can give a prospective client a pretty good idea of what will happen to each of those assets and liabilities in a divorce and help a potential client understand what their financial picture will look like post divorce.

How to cut down on lawyer fees?

You can cut down significantly on fees by forming a relationship with team members who bill at a lower hourly rate.

1 – Bring A List of Questions You Have

2 – Consider Bringing Pay Stubs

3 – If You Have Tax Returns, Bring These

4 – Bring Prenuptial Agreements and Other Documents Related to Your Marriage

5 – Any “Incriminating” Evidence

• In the event you are seeking a “fault divorce,” you’ll want to bring any evidence which is considered incriminating. This may include photos, posts on social media, or any other evidence that provides proof of any abuse, cheating, etc. While Texas does allow for “no fault divorces,” this sort of evidence may create weight in your favor if you are s...

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Scheduling Your Divorce Consultation

Documentation of Income

Financial Assets

Pension and Retirement Plans

Real Estate

Legal Documents Related to Your Marriage and Family

• These documents can include prenuptial agreements, birth certificates, identification information, and documents from legal proceedings involving any of your family members. These documents will allow the divorce lawyer to build a stronger understanding of your family dynamics and the familial aspects of your case. This is important, because while ...

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