Keeping Divorce Costs Down In the State of Florida

What to Bring to Your First Meeting With Your Attorney – Part 2 of 2

This is part two of a two part series. In part one of the series we discussed the importance of identifying and listing all assets and debts, whether they are marital or non-marital property to bring to your first meeting with your attorney. Here in part two, we will continue to discuss some additional information and documentation to bring to your first meeting with your divorce attorney in the state of Florida.

A List of Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts are also subject to division in divorce proceedings. Provide documentation regarding 401ks, IRAs, Deferred Compensation accounts, and any other retirement accounts. This includes jointly held retirement accounts as well as an employee pension earned by one of the parties. Do not forget previously earned military pensions. Division of these assets can be difficult and they may require further investigation by your attorney. The sooner you provide this information, the sooner your attorney can get the information needed from, for example, your spouse’s employer regarding a pension.

A List of Each Party’s Income

Your attorney will need all the information you can provide regarding the income of the parties. This can include tax returns, 1099s and W2s, and any other documentation regarding income. This information is needed for several reasons, including to determine the amount of any child support or spousal support payments, if appropriate. If your spouse’s employment includes cash payments, such as a bartender, separate documentation, such as bank deposit slips, may be in order.

A List of Information Regarding Any Children

Your attorney needs as much information about your children as you can provide. This includes basic vital statistics such as full name, date of birth and Social Security number. But it also includes details such as a child’s special needs, including any required services that can only be performed by one parent. All of this will help your attorney achieve the best outcome for you and your children whether by agreement of the parties or at trial.

Any Marital Agreements, Including A Prenuptial Agreement or Postnuptial Agreement

Valid prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can inform the court how the parties agreed to divide the assets, including assigning property as either non-marital or marital property. Provide a copy of any such agreement to your attorney. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can have  a significant impact on the division of assets and debts, whether by agreement or a determination by a court.

Reach Out to Us for Help

The prospect of doing an asset and debt inventory, as well as gathering the above listed information, may seem overwhelming during a time of marital strife. However, documenting absolutely everything is critical to ensuring a fair and reasonable disposition of assets and debts.

If you are considering a divorce, contact Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Sandra Bonfiglio today to discuss your personal situation.