Preparing to Meet with a Family Law Attorney

As you get ready for your first meeting with your family law attorney, you should prepare certain documents and information to bring with you. The information you provide will help us assess your situation and develop a plan that will be the best fit for your objectives. This list is a guide to help you get started. Not all items listed may be applicable to your situation, and we may ask you for additional information and/or documents, not on this list, as well.

Financial Information (including account names, numbers, balances and current statements)

• Individual income tax returns for the past three to five years (state and federal)
• Business income tax returns for the past three to five years (state and federal)
• Recent income stub
• Bank statements
• Statements from trusts, stocks, bonds or U.S. Treasury notes
• List of safety deposit box contents
• Investment accounts (annuities, mutual funds)

Retirement Savings Information (including balances, beneficiaries, outstanding loans and current statements)

• 401(k) accounts
• 403(b) accounts
• IRAs
• Life insurance policies (including cash value)
• Social Security statement
• Pension statement

Property Information (including property description, address, ownership interest, market value, outstanding mortgage and loan balances, source of mortgage and loan payments and most recent tax assessment)

• Primary residence
• Rental properties (including any rental income)
• Vacation homes
• Business property
• Personal property of value (antiques, collectibles, automobiles, jewelry, art, computers, electronics, clothing, furs, etc.)
• Inheritance (current or anticipated)
• Interests in trust (current or future)
• List of property owned by each spouse prior to marriage
• Automobile(s), boat(s) or other recreational vehicle(s)

Bills and Outstanding Debt (including balances, statements, source of payments/funds)

• Credit card statements
• Loan documents
• Utility bill
• Other bills (school tuition, medical bills, etc.)
• Monthly budget worksheet

Legal Agreements

• Wills
• Living wills
• Powers of attorney
• Durable powers of attorney
• Advance directives (also termed power of attorney for healthcare, healthcare proxy)
• Prenuptial agreements (also termed premarital agreement, antenuptial agreement)
• Divorce decrees or child support from a previous marriage

Non-financial Contributions

• Contributions of a homemaker
• Contributions made by one spouse to further the educational and/or career goals of the other spouse

Finally, you will also want to start thinking about other issues that may or may not be applicable to your situation. These are matters about which you should speak with your attorney and may include:

• Child support
• Child custody (legal, physical)
• Visitation
• Residence in the marital homestead
• Beneficiaries of insurance policies and other benefits
• Spousal support/alimony
• Domestic violence issues (including child abuse)
• Post-divorce non-financial support
• Attorney's fees and expenses