Your Divorce Give This Information to Your Attorney

Divorce is never easy. When you select an attorney to represent you, he or she understands that. Your attorney and legal staff will guide you through the process. This is a list of the information your attorney's office will need in order to protect your interests and prepare the necessary forms.

- Your full legal names, including maiden name of the wife.

- Your current address, and previous addresses. Be prepared to at least furnish your most recent previous address.

- Telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail address in order to reach you.

- Current contact information for your spouse.

- Social security numbers, dates and places of birth for you and your spouse.

- Place of your employment, how long employed there, salary.

- Employment information for you and your spouse.

- Provide any military service information for either spouse.

- Date and place of your marriage.

- How many prior marriages for both you and your spouse.

- Regarding children born of current marriage, their names, ages, dates of birth, and where they presently reside.

- List any retirement plans, pensions, IRA accounts, CDs for either spouse.

- Personal health insurance information and note which spouse is carrying it.

- List all other life, mortgage and personal property insurance coverages.

- A list of marital assets, including real estate, bank accounts, personal property owned by both.

- A list of non-marital assets, including real estate, bank accounts, personal property (this is property owned individually by you or your spouse).

- A list of liabilities, or debts, for both spouses. This includes loans, mortgages, and credit card balances.

**Note: Regarding real estate, you will be asked to provide information regarding the deed. If you have a copy of your deed, take it with you to the consultation.

You will be asked other pertinent information, such as any agreements you and your spouse have already reached regarding marital property, who will have primary residential custody of any children and what the proposed visitation arrangement may be. If you fear some areas are not in agreement, be prepared to tell your attorney what they are and how you wish them to be handled.

The requested information is confidential, and your attorney and staff are working for you. Most attorneys will have a questionnaire form you will be asked to fill out, either prior to the initial meeting or when you arrive. The form will include the items I listed in this article. Make your own list of any questions you want to discuss with your attorney and take it with you - you are understandably stressed and there's a lot to cover. Your own list will ensure you remember to ask any particularly important questions.