Tips For The First Meeting With Your New Attorney
In the last post, I made some suggestions about questions to ask an attorney at your initial consultation help you to decide whether to hire that attorney or whether you should look further. Once you have decided who you want to represent you, there are steps you can take to make the most out of the first meeting with the attorney you have selected. Some attorneys will send you a list of information to bring to the meeting. If not, then here are some tips.
- Take advantage of the information on the Family-Law Self-Help Center website. In particular, read the information about the divorce process so you have a “roadmap” of what to expect. You may want to print out the glossary from the Center’s website because as your case progresses your attorney will be using legal terms, with which you may not be familiar.
- Make a written list of your financial assets and debts as you would if you were filling out a loan or financial application.
- Make a written list of your month expenses and sources of income.
- If you have two years of tax returns readily available, you should bring them with you.
- Make a written list of any questions you may have for the attorney, including questions about your legal rights and your legal obligations.
Having this information readily available will save you money because the better prepared you are, the less time the attorney will have to spend trying to get this information from you.
