Once you’ve made the difficult decision to end your marriage, one of your top priorities should be meeting with a divorce lawyer. They’ll educate you on the divorce process, as well as explain your legal rights and options. This is also a good time to ensure you’ve found the right representation for your case. The more prepared you are for your appointment, the quicker a strategy can be developed to resolve the issues involved in your divorce. To help you make the most of your consultation, here are a few steps to take before you go.

How to Get Ready for Your First Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer

1. Gather Important Documents

Before an attorney can properly advise you, they need to gain a clear picture of your situation. It’s especially crucial for them to assess your finances. This will affect how your marital property is divided, whether or not you’re awarded alimony, and how much child support you receive if you have kids. As such, you’ll want to gather all relevant financial documents that show your income, debts, and assets, including bank statements, recent tax filings, real estate deeds, credit card bills, and prenuptial agreements.

2. Consider Your Goals

For your divorce lawyer to work towards a favorable result, they must know what your goals are for the case. Since divorce is a major life event, you’ll want to give this careful consideration ahead of time. Determine what your ideal outcome would be when it comes to dividing assets and arranging a child custody schedule. Understanding what you want will allow your attorney to devise the most effective strategy for your divorce and provide you with realistic expectations.

3. Put Together a List of Questions

Because divorce can take a serious emotional and financial toll on those involved, you should feel confident that the attorney you choose to hire is capable of offering support and advocating aggressively on your behalf. Bringing a list of questions to ask at your consultation will give you the opportunity to get to know a lawyer better and evaluate if they’re a good fit for your case. Find out their experience in family law, how often they represent divorce cases in court, what legal strategies they would use in your situation, and who would actually be working on your case.

If you’re ready to move forward with a divorce, trust Jerry F. Lee Attorney at Law to handle your case with compassion and precision. Backed by nearly 40 years of experience, this divorce lawyer will provide the personalized legal representation you deserve to ensure your best interests are protected. He’s worked with countless clients across Cleveland, GA, and is qualified to guide you through all the complexities and nuances of ending a marriage. Call (706) 219-2460 to schedule a phone consultation, or visit him online to learn more about his areas of practice.