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  5. Preparing to Meet with a Family Law Attorney

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

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DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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Practice Areas

  • Family Law
    • Adoption & Guardianships
    • Domestic Violence
    • Grandparents’ Rights
    • Out of State Clients
    • Same-Sex Family Law
    • Stepparent Adoptions
    • Emergency Family Law Hearings in Riverside and San Bernardino
    • Request for Order (RFO): What It Is and How It Works
    • Unbundled Family Law Services
  • Divorce (Dissolution)
    • Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
    • Domestic Partnerships
    • Estate Planning In Divorce
    • Grey Divorce
    • High Net Worth Divorce
    • Legal Separation
    • Mediation / Collaborative Divorce
    • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
    • Same–Sex Divorce
    • Spousal Support
    • Dissolution Timeline
    • Divorce Do’s and Don’ts
    • Divorce When There Is a Business Involved: Protecting Your Rights
    • What to Do If You’ve Been Served Divorce Papers
  • Child Custody & Visitation
    • Child Custody Overview
    • Fathers’ Rights
    • Modifications
    • Parental Relocations / Move-Aways
    • Parental Rights / Paternity
    • Enforcing Custody and Visitation Orders in California
    • Emergency Custody Orders in California
    • Move–Away Orders: When One Parent Wants to Relocate
    • Understanding 730 Child Custody Evaluations in California
    • Communicating With Your Children
    • Parental Alienation
    • Parental Interference
  • Child Support
    • Spousal Support / Alimony
    • Wage Garnishments (Collection of Support)
  • Estate Planning In Divorce
  • Guardianship & Adoption
  • Legal Separation
  • Military Divorce
    • Military Pension
    • Dividing CALPERS, Military, and Government Pensions in Divorce
  • Property Division
    • Business Valuations & Business Controllable Cash Flow
    • Hidden Assets
    • Property Rights: Simple & Complex
    • Property Settlement
  • Spousal Support
    • Spousal Support / Alimony
    • Spousal support in CA: Why does the date of the settlement matter?

Find Out How We Can Help You.

Call 951-715-4601, chat with us, or request a consultation below.

Riverside Office

4094 Chestnut Street
Riverside, CA 92501
951-715-4632

Fax: 951-715-4601

Riverside Office
Cullen Family Law Group

Temecula Office

28465 Old Town Front Street
Suite 321
Temecula, CA 92590
951-715-4632

Fax: 951-715-4601

Temecula Office
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