5 questions every person should be prepared to answer before hiring a divorce attorney

Realizing that your marriage isn’t working is one tough pill to swallow. There’s no doubt that the divorce process can be financially burdensome, emotionally draining, and flat out confusing for everyone involved.

While no one expects you to have all of the answers, you should be diligent about choosing the right divorce attorney to handle your case. One of the best ways to ensure that the dissolution of your marriage goes as smoothly as possible is to be prepared for your initial meeting with your divorce lawyer.

Check out this list of five questions every person should be prepared to answer before hiring a Michigan divorce attorney:

1. What is your current living situation?

When a couple decides to divorce, some people continue living together while others decide to move out of the home. Your divorce lawyer wants to understand what your current living situation is and whether or not it is suitable for you. Your attorney will also ask whether you are renting or if you own your home, and ask you what the related expenses are.

If you don’t have every detail, don’t worry. However, it will be helpful to have most of this information available for your lawyer upfront.

2. Can you provide the financial details of your marital accounts?

For your Michigan divorce attorney to best serve you, he or she will need to have a clear picture of your marital accounts. When it comes to determining things like spousal support and child support, the financial facts of your divorce case are critical pieces of information. Make sure to bring the following documents with you to your first meeting with your attorney:

• Tax returns for the previous two years
• Information regarding your pension plan, IRA, or 401(k)
• Most recent statements from your bank, including checking, savings, money market accounts, open lines of credit, etc.
• Monthly living expenses
• Real estate information (i.e., deeds, mortgage statements, escrow documentation. Include paperwork for all properties you own separately or jointly with your ex)
• Year-to-date pay stubs
• Vehicles owned separately or jointly
• Current debt (i.e., student loans, credit cards, etc.)
• Prenup agreement or divorce papers if applicable

3. Can you provide biographical information for you, your spouse, and your children?

Your lawyer will need to collect biographical information from you, including your full name, contact information, date of birth, driver’s license info, social security number, etc. However, you can save a lot of time by having this information already printed out and ready to submit to your attorney for your first meeting.

You should provide the same information about your spouse and include details about your marriage date, date of separation, and information on your children (i.e., names, ages, and birth dates).

4. Can you provide a detailed narrative of the marriage?

Your attorney will ask you a series of questions about your marriage and impending divorce. Be prepared to provide a detailed narrative about you and your spouse, your history together, and details about your children. The goal is to help your attorney understand the marital problems that led to the divorce and what you hope to gain from the separation.

5. What are your goals?

Your divorce attorney needs to understand what your main priorities are. Having this information will allow them to prepare a winning strategy for your case. For example, if you’re concerned about having custody of your children or keeping the family vehicle, it’s best for your lawyer to have this information early on in the process.

Create your list of must-haves and goals so that your attorney knows what to focus on.

Ready to talk? Contact Gucciardo Family Law to schedule your initial interview at no cost to you!