How to Prepare for the First Meeting with your Divorce Attorney
Before you sit down for the initial meeting with your divorce attorney, you need to make sure to have your questions and paperwork ready. This will save both you and your attorney a lot of time. Of course, since time is money, this step will also save you money. Learn how to properly prepare for the first meeting with your divorce attorney.
- Know what you want to get out of your divorce. Think about such issues as child custody, spousal support and the division of property.
- Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask your divorce lawyer. Write down any questions that you may have about how long it will take to go through the divorce proceedings, for your divorce to be finalized, how many times you’ll have to go to court and how much money you need to pay your attorney up front.
- Get your financial documents together to show your attorney. This includes your tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage, car loans and any other debts you may have. Without these things you cannot file for child support or alimony. Make copies of all of the documents that you need before going to the first appointment with your divorce lawyer.
- Make copies of any legal documents that are related to your marriage such as prenuptial agreements, adoption decrees for your children and any restraining orders that you may have taken out against your spouse. If you used another attorney for any of these proceedings, make sure to have his name and contact information available when you sit down to meet with your divorce lawyer.