Divorces can be a paperwork-intensive process, so it should not surprise you that you are going to need to bring a lot of documents to your initial consultation with a divorce lawyer. Having the right documents on you can make it easier for a York County, PA divorce attorney to assess your case and figure out the best path forward.
What Paperwork Do I Need For My Meeting With a Divorce Lawyer?
It is important to give your divorce attorney as much information as possible in this initial consultation. That means bringing in all of the proper paperwork, including:
Any legal documents concerning your marriage: Legal proof of your marriage is going to be needed if you plan to get a divorce, so you need your marriage certificate. You should also bring any other legal documents that concern your marriage and relationship with your spouse. For example, if you have a restraining order against your spouse, bringing that in with you is a good idea.
Evidence of your income and assets: You should also be able to provide proof of your income with tax returns, pay stubs, and other records. If you have other assets, like retirement or investment accounts, your lawyer will want to see those too. Knowing how much money each spouse has can be helpful when things like alimony and child support are being decided upon.
Records of marital and personal property: If you and your spouse have any kind of property that can be considered something that belongs to both of you, that is marital property. This usually includes things like houses, cars, and joint bank accounts. Bring any records relating to these properties and also bring paperwork that concerns your own separate assets that should not be subject to distribution in a divorce.
A list of facts and questions: If you have specific things that you want the attorney to know about your marriage, write them down so that you do not forget to mention them in your initial consultation. The same goes for any questions you have.
Do I Need Evidence of My Spouse’s Wrongdoing?
If you decide that you want a “fault” divorce, you can bring evidence of your spouse’s wrongdoing with you. Whether you are accusing them of domestic violence, infidelity, or another action that harmed you or your children, you should bring your attorney any records that you have.
We can go over the differences between a fault and no-fault divorce and help you decide if opting for a fault divorce would be worthwhile. A fault divorce often takes more time and money, but it can also affect matters like alimony, visitation rights, and child custody agreements. In some situations, pursuing this type of divorce is the best option.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation
If you are ready to divorce your spouse, contact Ilkhanoff & Silverstein to schedule an appointment. We can tell you more about your options at this initial consultation, and we can tell you what else you need to do to move forward with your divorce.
