Top 10 Things To Bring To The First Meeting With Your Divorce Attorney
- Documents evidencing your and your spouse’s assets; such as:
Bank Statements
Brokerage Statements
401k, 403b, IRA, Roth-IRA, SEP-IRA, TSP, Pension Statements, FERS or CSRS Statements
Bonds
Mutual Fund Statements
College Fund Statements
Stock Option Statements
- Information evidencing the value of your family home, vacation home, rental properties; such as:
Zillow Zestimate
Values from Reator.com or Redfin, etc.
Appraisals
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from a local realtor
- Information evidencing the value of your vehicles; such as
Kelley Blue Book Values
Bills of Sale
- Documents evidencing your and your spouse’s liabilities; such as
Mortgage Statements including monthly payment amount and balance due
Credit Card Statements
Car Loan Statements including monthly payment amount and balance due
Personal Loan Statements including monthly payment amount and balance due
Student Loan Statements including monthly payment amount and balance due
A recent copy of your credit report (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax)
- Documents evidencing your and your spouse’s income and bonuses; such as
Recent Paystubs
Recent W-2s
Recent Tax Returns
Employment Contracts
- Documents evidencing the cost of health insurance (for the children only if possible) and Life Insurance policies
- Evidence of the cost of work related child care; such as
Child Care invoices and/or cancelled checks, receipts, credit card payments and bank statements
Before and After Care invoices and/or cancelled checks, receipts, credit card payments and bank statements
Au Pair Contracts
Nanny Contracts
- Evidence of the expenses incurred for the activities of your children; such as
Sports
Music/Art Lessons
Tutoring
- Documentation from your spouse’s attorney; such as
Letters
Proposed Agreements
Pleadings (Complaints, Petitions, etc.)
- Documentation relating to your current situation; such as
Prior Court Orders relating to you and your spouse
Prior Signed Agreements relating to you and your spouse
Prenuptial Agreements
Postnuptial Agreements
Court Orders requiring you to pay child support or alimony to someone other than your current spouse
While all or none of this information and/or documentation is necessary for the first meeting with your divorce attorney, it will certainly help your lawyer provide you with more accurate and individualized information right away.
