Four Types Of Lists You Should Carry To Your First Meeting With Your Divorce Attorney

If you have never gone through divorce, you can be overwhelmed when considering what to bring for your initial consultation with your divorce lawyer. Although there are numerous things that you may bring with you, you can start by gathering lists of:

Your Assets

Bring with you a list of businesses, real estate properties, financial revenues (such as shares) and other forms of assets you may have. Don't forget to carry supporting documents such as bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns, car titles and others. As you know, asset division is one of the most contentious issues during divorce. This list will help your lawyer to prepare for this battle by letting him or her predict the approach your spouse is likely to take.

Your Liabilities

As well as the assets, liabilities are also divided during divorce. The list should include everything from mortgages to credit card statements. Include everything from family debts to individual debts; your lawyer will advise you on the difference between marital and non-marital debt.

Questions to Ask

Apart from the lists of assets and liabilities, you should also carry with you a list of questions to ask the lawyer. Don't limit yourself to "What are your fees?" and "How long will it take?" types of questions. No question is too small or too mundane to ask; if you don't know the answer, ask it. Examples of possible questions include:

• What is your experience with divorce cases?
• What do you think about mediation?
• How can you help me to keep the costs down?
• Do you have malpractice insurance?

All of these are relevant questions.

Your Spouse's Strengths and Weaknesses

This list will also help you to prepare for the custody hearing, which is another common contentious issue among couples going through divorce. For example, you can explain how he or she has been relating to the children. This may include whether or not he or she helps with their homework, or if he or she is always working and doesn't have time for them.

This is a good start, but it is not an exhaustive list of what you should carry with you. Apart from this list of lists, you should also carry anything you deem relevant and let the lawyer decide whether it is useful or not. Of course, you can always bring other things during your subsequent meetings, but gathering everything early enough hastens your divorce.