What to Prepare for a Meeting With a Divorce Attorney
*This is a guest post from another attorney. The author’s views are his own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of our firm. This does not constitute an endorsement of any attorney or firm
Are you thinking about filing for divorce? Getting started on this process can feel daunting, and it can be difficult to know what kind of information you are supposed to bring with you when you meet with a divorce attorney. Whether you are anticipating a relatively cooperative divorce in which you and your spouse are able to agree to most terms, or a particularly contentious divorce that makes negotiations difficult at each stage of the process, it is essential to have an experienced divorce lawyer on your side. As such, the first step to take when you are considering divorce is to hire an experienced divorce attorney who can assist with your case and can advocate for your rights.
What should you prepare for a meeting with a divorce attorney? An article in Divorce Magazine provides some helpful tips that we will discuss with you below.
1. Biographical Information About Yourself and Your Spouse
The first thing you will want to prepare to bring with you is basic biographical information about yourself and your spouse. For example, you should have the following written down: dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, places of employment, and information about any children from the marriage.
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. If you are able to do so, you should come to the meeting with your divorce attorney with a prepared list of separate and marital property, the date(s) of acquisition, and the value of the property at the time of purchase as well as updated information if it has been appraised more recently.
Making a list of all marital and separate property can help to ensure that assets and debts are properly classified, and that property is not hidden.
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. In addition, if there are children from the marriage, you should bring any questions or concerns you have about child support.
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.
About the Author
Joseph D. Bloch maintains a diverse practice specializing in Men’s Rights in Divorce and Family Law, Personal Injury, Ski and Recreational accidents, Auto and Motorcycle Accidents, Criminal Law and Civil Litigation. He has over twenty years of litigation experience representing clients in trials and appeals in both state and federal court.
