Your initial meeting with your divorce attorney is an important step, one in which you start to build a relationship with your lawyer and establish your own expectations. The more prepared you at for that first meeting, the more information the attorney will have to answer your questions and start developing a strategy to protect your rights.

Before your first meeting with a lawyer, Payne Law Office in Lincoln, NE, recommends:

• Collecting Financial Statements: Get as much information as possible about your financial situation, including statements from all of your checking, savings, and investment accounts, as well as pay stubs from both you and your spouse. Assembling a detailed accounting of all the marital and individual debts will also help your divorce attorney develop a clear understanding of your finances, which is instrumental in achieving a fair outcome.
• Bringing Evidence: In some states, you may be entitled to a larger portion of the marital assets if you can demonstrate that your spouse wasted marital assets on themselves or had an affair. If you intend to file for an at-fault divorce, bring any evidence of their misdeeds so your lawyer can evaluate the likelihood of a successful outcome.
• Formulating Questions: It's not uncommon to get flustered during the course of the meeting and forget important questions. Take the time to write down any questions you may have regarding the division of assets, the possibility of spousal support, and the lawyer's own experience and qualifications. This is also your opportunity to determine whether you can develop a strong working relationship with this attorney, so treat it as you would a job interview.

The attorneys at Payne Law Office pride themselves on the versatility of their services and their wide-ranging experience. As experienced mediators, they strive to find peaceful resolutions whenever possible but are not afraid to step into the courtroom to pursue your goals. To schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney, call their offices at (402) 477-7246 today.