How To Prepare For Your First Meeting With Your Family Law Attorney
Before your first meeting with your family law lawyer, you should prepare certain documents and information to bring with you. The information you provide will give us a better idea of your situation and will enable us to advise you of your options. This list is a guide. Not all items listed will apply 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)s
- 403(b)s
- 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 properties 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 health care, health care proxy)
- Prenuptial agreements (also termed premarital agreement, antenuptial agreement)
- Divorce decrees or child support from a previous marriage
Finally, the following are issues you should think about prior to meeting with your attorney and which you should speak with your attorney about if they apply:
- 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)
- Attorney’s fees and expenses
Contact Us Regarding Your Additional Questions
In the event you have additional questions regarding your meeting with an attorney, please contact The Law Office of Ashley McCartney, LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia, by calling 404-874-0240. We offer consultations and accept credit cards for payment.