In order to keep your legal fees as low as possible, you’ll want to be prepared for your first appointment should you decide to hire the lawyer you’re meeting with. With that goal in mind, here is a list of information and documents that would be helpful to have on hand for the attorney to get started as efficiently and affordably as possible.
- Basic summary of facts of case including (why they want a divorce, number and age of kids, property owned, length of marriage, assets other than real estate, and income of both parties)
- List of specific goals you want to accomplish during the divorce process.
- Copies of Tax Returns for 3 years
- Copies of Mortgage information, mortgage insurance statement, recent property appraisals
- Copies of life insurance statements, retirement info/pension funds/401Ks
- Bank account statement for multiple months, including saving and checking accounts, and bank investments like CDs, savings bonds, or IRAs
- List of stock portfolios, trusts, and any potential employer stock options
- Copies of Children’s social security numbers
- Copies of expenses with statements (utilities, car, car insurance, credit card, student loans, home equity loans, other loans or purchases on credit)
- List of other expenses (i.e. school tuition, medical/dental bills, dance or music lessons for children)
- Proof of Income for both spouses (copies of Pay Stubs for 2-5 consecutive pays)
- Copy of any Prenuptial Agreement
- List of spouse’s known recent large purchases (like antiques, rugs, furniture, vehicles, etc) that could be considered to be of significant dollar value