how do i prepare for a meeting with a divorce lawyer

What to expect at your first meeting with a divorce lawyer?

 · Before your first meeting, you need to prepare two documents if at all possible. One is simple biographical information– your full name, address, phone numbers, place of employment, address of employment, date of birth, your driver’s license number, your social security number, the same information on your spouse, your date of marriage, and your …

What should I bring to my first meeting with a lawyer?

The following guidance can help you get the most out of your first meeting with your divorce lawyer . 1. PREPARE A WRITTEN SUMMARY You can save a lot of time by writing down basic information that your lawyer will need. This includes you and your spouse’s full name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, and email address.

How do I make an appointment with a divorce attorney?

 · To help you feel more relaxed, ask at the time you make the appointment about what kind of paperwork you should bring (especially if you have already filed for divorce or have a restraining order in place), how long you can expect the appointment to last, and the cost of this first meeting. 2. Prepare a Wish List.

Where can I get a free initial consultation for divorce?

 · How do you prepare for your first meeting with a Divorce Lawyer? Being prepared can help you get the most of your meeting. FIRST: EXPECT A CONFLICT CHECK If the lawyer or the lawyer's firm has represented or consulted with anyone on the other side of the case, he or she may have a conflict and may not be able to represent you.

How do I prepare for my first meeting with a lawyer?

Tips For Meeting With Your Lawyer For the First TimeDress To Impress. ... Be Ready To Give Your Attorney Important Information About Yourself. ... Gather Your Evidence And Have It Ready For Your First Meeting. ... Get Your Facts Straight. ... Plan Something You Can Look Forward To For After Your Meeting.

What should you expect when meeting the lawyer for the first time?

To prepare for this first meeting, you should do your homework and collect all the relevant documents you think you many need to present your case such as medical records, witness statements, police reports or receipts. Next, you should write down a summary of any memory you had from the incident.

What should I ask for in my divorce?

5 Things To Make Sure Are Included In Your Divorce SettlementA detailed parenting-time schedule—including holidays! ... Specifics about support. ... Life insurance. ... Retirement accounts and how they will be divided. ... A plan for the sale of the house.

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...•

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

How do you prepare to talk to a lawyer?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

Why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce?

You Can Damage Your Child Custody Claim One of the most significant ways moving out can influence your divorce is when it comes to child custody. If you move out, it means you don't spend as much time with your kids. Not only can this harm your relationship, but it can also damage your custody claim.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce?

Assets that you have built up or acquired during the period of marriage are known as matrimonial assets or marital assets. These typically include property, pensions, savings, personal belongings, and cash in the bank.

What can wife claim in divorce?

For example, under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, both the husband and wife are legally entitled to claim permanent alimony and maintenance. However, if the couple marries under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, only the wife is entitled to claim permanent alimony and maintenance.

What are the 3 grounds for divorce?

The following are the grounds of divorce mentioned under the Indian Divorce Act, 1869. Adultery. Conversion to another religion. One of the couples suffering from an unsound mind, leprosy or communicable venereal disease for at least two years before the filing of the divorce.More items...•

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.

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 to do before a divorce lawyer visit?

Here are five important steps to take before that all-important initial visit. 1. Don’t Stress Out! Divorce is already stressful enough without having to take on new anxiety about what will happen the first time you meet your lawyer.

What questions should I ask my divorce lawyer?

Questions about divorce that are commonly asked at an initial meeting include: Can I receive temporary child support or spousal support since my spouse no longer resides with me? How and when do we set up a temporary child custody agreement? Should I freeze all of our bank and credit card accounts? Who is responsible for paying the mortgage? Jot these down beforehand so you don’t forget — or better yet, email them to the lawyer in advance of your meeting.

Can a divorce lawyer represent you?

If the lawyer or the lawyer's firm has represented or consulted with anyone on the other side of the case, he or she may have a conflict and may not be able to represent you. If you have spoken with a divorce attorney about your matter, that attorney may be prevented to talking to your spouse about your matter.

Can a divorce lawyer tell you the outcome of a divorce in Michigan?

A divorce attorney that does not tell you the POTENTIAL outcomes of the above is either too inexperienced or is afraid to tell you the truth, especially if it is a type of outcome that might not work in your favor. However, you need to be concerned if a Michigan divorce lawyer GUARANTEES you a specific result.

2. General Narrative Information About Your Marriage

You should also be prepared to tell the divorce lawyer about your marriage more generally. In addition to providing details about the date of the marriage and children from the marriage, you should plan to discuss a general narrative of the relationship, concerns you have about the divorce, and any other issues related to the family.

3. Information About a Premarital or Prenuptial Agreement

Is there a premarital or prenuptial agreement? You should be prepared with a copy of the premarital or prenuptial agreement, and to discuss its enforceability with your divorce attorney.

4. List of Separate and Marital Property

Generally speaking, marital property will be distributed as part of the divorce proceedings, while separate property will not. Marital property includes assets and debts from the marriage.

5. Other Financial Information

Are you anticipating that you will need spousal support until you are able to find a job or to acquire a degree? Are you anticipating that you will be paying spousal support? If you have questions or concerns about spousal maintenance or alimony, you should plan to address those with your divorce attorney at your first meeting.

Contact a Divorce Attorney to Discuss Your Case

Preparing to meet with a divorce lawyer can feel intimidating, but it is important to keep in mind that your divorce lawyer will advocate for your rights throughout the process. An experienced divorce attorney can speak with you today about what to expect in your divorce.

Bruce Stanger

My litigation experience includes family law, divorce, product liability, construction law, professional negligence, shareholder disputes, legal malpractice, and general commercial litigation.

What to expect during a divorce consultation?

The subjects discussed during your consultation will depend on how far along you are in your divorce. Some clients are eager to file for divorce immediately, while others are still unsure if a divorce is right for them and just want some information about their legal rights.

Can an attorney meet with you privately?

An attorney will meet with you privately or may ask your permission to have an assistant sit in on the meeting. Anything you tell your attorney or the assistant will be kept private due to the "attorney-client privilege," and as a result, you don't have to worry about your spouse finding out what you discussed.

What to know before meeting with a lawyer?

Make sure you are familiar with your savings, checking accounts, stocks, debts, and any other details before you meet with your lawyer.

Why is it important to answer all of your lawyer's questions directly and honestly?

It is extremely important that you answer all of your lawyer’s questions directly and honestly so that he or she can be prepared to defend you. Your lawyer might ask:

Is divorce painful?

Divorce can be an unpleasant process, but being prepared can make it all go a whole lot smoother. Before you meet with your divorce lawyer, you will want to do several things that will make sure that this first step is as productive and painless as possible.

How to prepare for a divorce?

Many, if not all, aspects of their life will be changing. The first step to a strong divorce case is hiring an experienced family law attorney.

What do you do when you are divorced?

Some “do’s” for divorce cases include: Do: If possible, come to an agreement regarding divorce issues. This makes the process quicker and smoother for all parties. It is alright, of course, if every issue is not resolved by agreement. Do: Be honest. Be honest with the attorney and with the court.

Who is Jennifer from LegalMatch?

Jennifer joined LegalMatch in 2020 as a Legal Writer. She holds a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law and has been a member of the Alabama State Bar since 2012. She is a certified mediator and guardian ad litem. She holds a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Spanish, both from Auburn University. Jennifer’s favorite part of legal work is research and writing. Jennifer enjoyed being a Law Clerk for a distinguished Circuit Judge in Alabama. She is a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher of three children. She enjoys reading and long evening walks with her ...

Why is it important to hire a divorce lawyer?

For most individuals, a divorce is simply too complex and emotionally challenging to handle on their own. A divorce lawyer can advise you on the laws of your state and your rights under those laws.

How does divorce affect the courtroom?

A divorce case may be weakened in a courtroom by the behavior of the parties, including outbursts and combative behaviors. In most cases, both parties are anxious to finish the proceedings and move forward but the process may take longer than expected and it is important to maintain a cordial and respectful behavior to all parties involved.

How to fight for your rights during divorce?

An attorney needs certain information in order to fight for an individual’s rights during a divorce proceeding. Attempting to hide money and/or assets will cause legal issues during the process, and even criminal penalties, including jail time.

Why do you need to present an argument in a divorce?

They will also know how to best present an argument to the court in order to protect an individual’s rights and property during a divorce. Depending on whether an individual lives in a no-fault or fault divorce state, they may be required to provide a reason for divorce.

How do I find a divorce lawyer?

Finding a Divorce Lawyer. Firstly, it is crucial to choose an lawyer suited to your case, i.e. one that usually handles divorces. Family law is a rather specialized area, and you should look for someone who has at least a few years of experience in it. Your very first contact with the lawyer will most probably be over the phone.

What is the most important part of divorce?

Choosing, hiring, and meeting up with a divorce lawyer are some of the most important parts of the divorce process. However, it can all get a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect from it all. If you will be meeting up with your divorce lawyer soon and wish to understand how it’s all going to go, read on.

What happens if you don't hire a lawyer?

So, even if you don’t hire the lawyer, all your info will not leave the room it was discussed in. All of that is due to the lawyer-client privilege, which mandates that the lawyer keep your information safe and a secret.

Can a lawyer hold an in person meeting?

That is where you can actually present some aspects of the case to them and ask for advice. Lawyer can either hold these meetings for free, or they may charge an hourly rate. It depends from lawyer to lawyer.

Can a lawyer give legal advice?

It's important to remember that an lawyer can only give you legal advice. They will look at the case objectively and offer you an unbiased account of it. Still, all the major decisions will be up to you. You should consider all the advice and make the best choice for yourself.