what to bring to consultation with lawyer for divorce

by Mrs. Scarlett Sawayn 10 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...

10 things to bring to your initial consultation with a divorce lawyer
  • Prepare your Schedule of Assets and Debts. ...
  • Prepare your Income and Expense Declaration. ...
  • Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the divorce lawyer. ...
  • Tax Returns. ...
  • Self-employment documents. ...
  • List out the relevant facts about your case.
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Feb 5, 2017

Full Answer

What questions should I ask at a divorce consultation?

Questions That You Should Ask the Attorney. When you visit the attorney’s office, it is important for you to find out as much as you can about the attorney, the process, and other details of the divorce process that you need to know about. To find everything you need to know, you need to prepare a list of questions to ask the divorce lawyer.

What should you bring to an initial divorce 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 consult with a divorce lawyer is an outline of ...
  • Financial Documents. ...
  • Copies of Important Legal Documents. ...
  • A List of Questions and Goals. ...
  • Confidentiality During a Divorce Consultation. ...

How to prepare for your initial divorce consultation?

This information includes:

  • Your personal information, including your full name, address, date of birth, contact details and the reason for the consultation
  • Your spouse’s (or the ‘opposing party’s’) information, including full name, address and date of birth
  • Your marriage history, including prior marriages
  • The number of children you have (if relevant)

More items...

What are the best questions to ask a divorce lawyer?

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How should a woman prepare for divorce?

9 Critical Steps Women Should Take To Prepare For DivorceGather your financial records. ... Open a Post Office Box. ... Start putting money away for legal and other professional fees. ... Open a new checking and savings account. ... Open new credit cards in your name only. ... Get a copy of your credit report.

What should I wear to a lawyer consultation?

Day of 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. Nothing too revealing.

How do I prepare for a divorce case?

Divorce ChecklistConsider Whether You Can Resolve Your Divorce Without Court. ... Consider Whether You Need to Hire a Lawyer. ... If You Have Minor Children, Prepare for the New Parenting Arrangement. ... Collect Marriage Documents. ... Compile Important Financial Documents. ... Gather Other Essential Documents. ... Take Steps to Separate Your Life.More items...

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.

How do I prepare for a consultation?

Prepare For Your ConsultationBring all documents. Make copies of all the documents you have collected regarding your case and give these copies to your lawyer.Have notes ready. ... Dress for success. ... Be honest. ... Talk about costs. ... Ask your lawyer questions. ... Understand all documents you sign. ... Keep your own files.More items...

What questions should I ask my consultation lawyer?

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...•

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.

How do I protect myself financially in a divorce?

How to Financially Protect Yourself in a DivorceLegally establish the separation/divorce.Get a copy of your credit report and monitor activity.Separate debt to financially protect your assets.Move half of joint bank balances to a separate account.Comb through your assets.Conduct a cash flow analysis.More items...•

How long does a divorce take?

On average, it takes 12 months to complete a divorce, from filing the divorce petition to finalizing the judgment. If the case goes to trial, the average time is about 18 months. The average cost of divorce in 2019 was $12,900, which includes $11,300 in attorney's fees and about $1,600 in other expenses.

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.

Who loses more in a divorce?

Marriage is connected to a longer lifespan for both men and women. While both genders see a rise in deaths following divorce, the rate for men is 1,773 per 100,000, compared to 1,096 for women.

What should you not do during separation?

5 Mistakes To Avoid During Your SeparationKeep it private. The second you announce you're getting a divorce, everyone will have an opinion. ... Don't leave the house. ... Don't pay more than your share. ... Don't jump into a rebound relationship. ... Don't put off the inevitable.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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

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.

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 You Should Expect at a Divorce Consultation

You already that you will be doing most of the talking since the case revolve around you. The divorce attorney will ask you for some information. Here are some of the details that the lawyer will ask you for during the initial consultations for the divorce meeting.

What You Should Bring to Your Initial Consultation

One of the things that you should do to be well prepared for the initial consultation is to bring documentation with you. The documentation will help the attorney to have an easier time evaluating your case.

Questions That You Should Ask the Attorney

When you visit the attorney’s office, it is important for you to find out as much as you can about the attorney, the process, and other details of the divorce process that you need to know about. To find everything you need to know, you need to prepare a list of questions to ask the divorce lawyer.

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.

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 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.

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.

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1 – Bring A List of Questions You Have

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As mentioned, this is the perfect time to ask the divorce lawyer about any questions you may want answers to. This may include things such as, “what are my options?” or “what is a realistic timeline for my case?” The more questions you are able to get answered in this time, the better. It help put your mind at ease while al…
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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 accurate estimates on how much money may be awarded in some cases. If you can, bring pay s…
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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…
See more on whitleylawfirmpc.com

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…
See more on whitleylawfirmpc.com

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…
See more on whitleylawfirmpc.com

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'…
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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…
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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 ...
See more on lawinfo.com

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…
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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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