Divorce Consultation Checklist

Interviewing Divorce Attorneys

If you're currently shopping around for a divorce attorney, you should think of the initial consultation as an interview. Your lawyer will be a line of advice and support throughout your divorce, so it is vital that you choose wisely. A great way to maximize your efforts and hire the right person is to prepare a divorce consultation checklist. To help you out, we've outlined the most important things you need.

Preparing For Your Initial Consultation

If you've done your research and found some divorce attorneys that match your needs, there are a couple of things you can do to prepare for your first appointment.

Get Your Documents in Order

When you schedule your appointment, one of the first things you could do is ask what kind of paperwork you should bring, especially if you have a restraining order in place or have already filed for divorce. By collecting important financial and legal documents before meeting the attorney, will help maximize your time by providing the lawyer with a useful overview of your economic circumstances.

You should take records of your assets, debts, and sources of income to the consultation. You should bring photocopies of your last several years' tax returns, pay stubs, W-2s bank account and credit card statements, stock portfolio information, business ownership information, and any retirement plan statements. Since a comprehensive financial discovery is necessary for a divorce, these documents serve to make your discussion more meaningful.

Prepare Your Divorce Settlement Goals

During your initial consultation, your attorney is going to try to get a sense of your situation and any concerns you might have regarding your divorce. You should help them and yourself by preparing a divorce “wishlist” that outlines what you hope to get from your divorce settlement. Envision what you aspire to get out of your divorce and write it down. For instance, if you want full custody of your kids or want to keep specific assets, this is the information you should tell your lawyer so that they can understand your goals.

Take a List Of Questions

Remember to think of your first meeting as an interview before you decide to hire the attorney, and prepare a list of questions to determine if they are the right person for the job. This meeting is a chance for you to voice your concerns, so you should ask questions about the structure of attorney fees, their credentials, availability, and how they will handle your case. You can jot down the topics you want to address or email them to the lawyer beforehand.

Hiring a Divorce Lawyer in Schaumburg, Illinois

Not all attorneys are the same. You might have to filter through a few before you find the right Divorce Lawyer in Schaumburg, IL for your case. But don't lose faith. If you prepare a divorce consultation checklist, you'll be able to find an attorney in no time.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes