Important Information To Provide To Your Divorce Lawyer

Making the decision to divorce your spouse can be very difficult. After that decision is made and you have hired a divorce lawyer, you may be overwhelmed and not know what to expect. However, being organized and providing pertinent information that your lawyer needs will make it easier for him or her to help you. Thus, before your first official meeting with your divorce lawyer after hiring and signing a contract, take the time to find as much documentation as possible. The more information you bring to the initial meeting, the sooner your divorce lawyer can get to work. The important information that your divorce lawyer will need includes the following:

Identifying Information

In order to begin filling out the necessary paperwork to file for divorce, your divorce lawyer will need identifying information about you, your spouse, and shared children. So, begin by gathering your marriage certificate, your children's birth certificates and Social Security cards, your Social Security card, and any separation documentation that you may have if you and your spouse are legally separated. Your lawyer will make copies of this information and return your important documents to you promptly.

Copies of Tax Returns

Tax returns are official financial documents that can give a divorce lawyer a better idea of you and your spouse's finances. This will help him or her to determine whether you may qualify for alimony from your spouse. The figures stated in a tax return may also play a factor in deciding how much child support one spouse may be required to pay to help care for the children. It is best to bring your tax returns for the past couple of years.

Recent Pay Stubs

Your most recent tax return can provide information about the last year that you filed taxes, but pay stubs can paint a picture of your current financial situation. If possible, try to bring copies of both your pay stubs and your spouse's pay stubs from the past few months. This is especially important if your financial situation has changed positively or negatively since your last tax return was filed. 

Documentation of Assets and Debts

The more information you can provide about joint assets and debts, the better. This includes bank account statements, retirement account statements, mortgage statements, and deeds to any property you may own together. You will also want to bring recent credit card statements, auto loan statements, and proof of any other debt that will need to be divided during the divorce process. 

Reach out to a law firm such as the Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C. to learn more.


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