Preparing For The First Meeting With Your Divorce Lawyer

If you and your spouse have decided to separate and pursue a divorce, you should consider working with an experienced divorce lawyer, who can help walk you through the process. While an obvious first step to these divorce proceedings is to meet with your attorney, there are actually a few steps that you can take now to prepare for that initial consultation.

Creating a Timetable of Events 

One thing that couples can do before their first meeting with their divorce lawyer is to create a timetable of the events leading up to the divorce. This can serve as a reference for your legal team, at least during the first meeting, giving your lawyer a better handle on your relationship with your spouse and the types of issues you may be facing during divorce. It’s also important to remember to be completely open and honest with your attorney, as this is critical to their ability to grasp your situation and come up with solutions that will suit your needs. All of your communications with your attorney will be confidential and privileged, so you don’t need to worry about anything you say to your lawyer leaving the room.

Bringing Copies of Important Documentation 

Besides listing a timetable of events, you can also bring copies of important documentation that your attorney will likely need at some point in the proceedings, including:

• Your marriage certificate;
• A timeline of significant events in your marriage, such as any attempts at counseling or separations;
• Any prenuptial agreement or other marriage contracts;
• Tax returns from the last three years;
• Documents related to your current employment;
• Your driver’s license and Social Security card;
• Current bank and investment account statements;
• Titles and deeds to any real estate or other valuable asset;
• Life insurance policies; and
• Recent statements for credit card and other debts.

If you didn’t bring any of these records with you to your meeting or are unable to find them, don’t worry! An experienced attorney will be well-versed in the types of information you need and where they can be obtained.

Providing Helpful Information 

In addition to copies of these documents, you may also need to provide some other basic information to your attorney at that first consultation, including details about you and your spouse’s educational and employment backgrounds, your incomes, the names and ages of your children, and a list of any other legal proceedings in which you and your spouse were involved. This may not be the only information you are asked to provide, but it’s a good place to start.

Our Legal Team is Here to Help with Your Divorce Proceedings 

Don’t forget to ask your attorney questions and to raise any concerns that you have. You have a right to understand the divorce process and your legal rights throughout those proceedings. For help with any questions or concerns about your divorce that may have already arisen, please call 954-945-7591 and set up a meeting with dedicated Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A. today.

Sources: 

floridabar.org/public/consumer/pamphlet010/

forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/florida-divorce/