what should i bring to a divorce lawyer consultation?

by Prof. Aidan Rodriguez 4 min read

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 I bring to a divorce consultation?

In terms of what you should do to prepare for the initial divorce consultation, I generally tell clients to bring a list of questions because there’s a lot of emotions involved and a lot of information to absorb, so if you’ve written down a list of questions, that’s easier for us to go over. Also, if you can bring any financial information with you, that’s also helpful in assessing assets, debts in the …

What questions should I ask my divorce lawyer?

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 information should be included in a consultation with a lawyer?

Jun 01, 2020 ¡ 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 ...

What is a free initial consultation with a divorce lawyer?

5 Important Things to Bring to a Divorce Consultation 1. Bring A List of Prepared Questions Going through a divorce is an emotional process, but don’t let yourself mistake a... 2. Bring Real Estate Information to Your Divorce Consultation Make sure you bring along any information about the... 3. ...

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What do you wear to a consultation with a lawyer?

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. Nothing too revealing.Sep 4, 2019

What should I ask for in my divorce?

Things to ask for in a divorce: moneyWho is responsible for the debt after divorce?Credit card, tax and personal loan debt.Student loans.Any lawsuits, including bankruptcies.Life insurance policies in divorce settlement.Long-term care insurance in divorce settlement.Wedding and engagement rings in divorce.More items...•Aug 16, 2019

Why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce?

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.Mar 31, 2021

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce settlement?

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. These assets will always be added to the overall 'pot' and will need to be split fairly.

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

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.

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.

Is divorce predictable?

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. Planning correctly from the start is one of the best ways to get the outcomes you want from your divorce proceedings ...

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 to bring to a divorce meeting?

Documents already filed in the divorce case. If a divorce case has been filed already, bring a copy of all the filed documents to your meeting. Have an extra copy to provide to the lawyer so you can both look at a copy during your meeting. 10. Documents and evidence that might be important.

How to prepare for divorce?

2. Prepare your Income and Expense Declaration. The Income and Expense Declaration is the other document included in the Declaration of Disclosure. The IED includes the party’s income, expenses, and must include recent pay stubs of the person filling out the form. 3. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the divorce lawyer.

What to bring to a mental health consultation?

Bring information about your spouse to your initial consultation, including their place of employment, pay stubs, and relevant facts about their personality. If there is a history of mental illness, bring the relevant information to your meeting.

What is Schedule of Assets and Debts?

The Schedule of Assets and Debts is one of the most important documents in any California divorce case. Every party in every divorce case in California has to complete this form before their dissolution of marriage will be granted by the court. You may as well start now and get this document completed, which will be extremely helpful for the attorney during your initial consultation. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Declaration of Disclosure, which consists of the Schedule of Assets & Debts. As the name announces, the Sched. of Assets and Debts lists out all the community and separate property assets, debts, and includes supporting documentation.

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.

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.

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.

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2 – Consider Bringing Pay Stubs

  • It’s common for divorce attorneys to ask how much money both you and your spouse make. When determining items such as child support payments, these will be important pieces of information that will be taken into consideration. By bringing pay stubs with you, this will aid in making more …
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3 – If You Have Tax Returns, Bring These

  • Sometimes it’s understandably a little tough to round up three months worth of pay stubs. If you are unable to, a tax return may actually be even more helpful, since it’s gives a better picture of yearly income and your financial situation. To obtain a copy of your tax return you may do so online directly from the IRS website here.
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4 – Bring Prenuptial Agreements and Other Documents Related to Your Marriage

  • 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. Documents such as these can assist in the event there are questions involving custody, or if your case ends up goin…
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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 seeking specific awarding in your divorce, su…
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Scheduling Your Divorce Consultation

  • 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. You can rest assured that with our legal staff, you will be in good hands a…
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