The First Legal Meeting Regarding Your Divorce: 3 Things to Do
If you have decided to seek a divorce, you probably have some questions and concerns about how the legal process with play out. However, you shouldn't panic! A friendly and professional family lawyer will be able to guide you through the entire process. If you have arranged your first meeting with a family lawyer, you should take the following actions before the meeting takes place.
Think about the outcome you want to achieve
Divorcing your partner is hard. It is likely that you are feeling a range of emotions. However, before you meet with your family lawyer, you should try to distance yourself from your emotions so you can think objectively about the divorce. You should consider the ideal outcome of the divorce proceedings. If you have children, this may include gaining custody or extensive visitation rights. If you and your ex-partner own property or other assets, you should think about how you would like these to be divided between you. Being able to set down your goals will help your family lawyer to plan your case so they can try to achieve the best divorce term possible. You may have to compromise on some things, but setting goals for your family lawyer will give you a head start.
Collect details of your financial situation
When you meet with the family lawyer, you should bring along details of any financial situation. This may include details of:
- Credit cards
- Bank loans
- Mortgages
- Savings
- Joint bank accounts
- Tax returns
- Superannuation or pension funds
- Earnings
This information will give the family lawyer a much better picture of your income, your outgoings and any assets you own. Using this information, your lawyer can present an honest financial picture to the family court. This is important, as it could impact the amount of child maintenance you need to pay.
Collect evidence which supports your divorce application
If you have any evidence which supports your application for divorce, you should bring this along with you. This evidence might include messages, videos or testimony which proves that your partner was adulterous, being emotionally or physically abusive, or addicted to drink or drugs. This will help the family lawyer to assess the situation and to make the relevant applications to the family court to prevent your ex from having close contact with you or your children.
If you would like further advice about how you can prepare for a divorce, you should contact a family law firm today.
