First meeting with divorce attorney: How can I prepare?

You can save a lot of money on attorney fees if you are organized and provide your divorce attorney with concise and complete information.  Here are some tips on how to prepare for your first meeting with divorce attorney.

Be prepared to discuss your marital problems with your divorce attorney but keep it concise and honest.

• The longer you talk about the the lies, affairs and financial disagreements that ended your marriage, the longer your meeting will take and the more it will distract from the legal aspects and business transaction of your divorce proceedings. Talk to your mental health professional if you need a more emotional connection. Talk to your financial expert if you need assistance understanding the family finances and planning for your future. Do your best to simply state. Why, in your honest opinion, your marriage has come to an end.
  • Romantic infidelity?
  • Financial infidelity?
  • Financial Disagreements?
  • Life review?
  • No longer in Love?

An idea of what you want to get out of the divorce proceedings financially.

• If you do not know what you want; Wellspring Divorce Advisors can build a plan for your financial future and communicate the results with powerful analysis and reports.
• Some examples
  • Keep the House – Can you afford it?
  • Financial Security – What does this mean to you?
  • Long term spousal support
  • Not to go back to work
  • Children’s college education paid for
  • Financial autonomy
  • Purchase a new home

You should bring the following information to your first meeting:

• Family information, including the names and birth dates for yourself, your spouse, and your children
• The date and place where you were married
• Current employment information for you and your spouse
• An estimate of financial status including
  • Income (current pay-stubs and last three years tax returns would be best)
  • Expenses (if you have a budget bring it, if not let us know and we can help you prepare one)
  • Assets and Debts (account statements for mortgage, 401K, brokerage accounts, bank accounts, credit cards)

 

We suggest meeting with a Wellspring Divorce Advisor before or immediately after your first meeting with divorce attorney. We will help you put together a complete and detailed picture of your family finances before the attorney heads down the path of expensive formal discovery. We can also help you choose the right attorney and divorce process if you do not yet have one.