Initial Family Law Consultation Checklist

Below is a checklist of items that are helpful to bring in for your initial family law consultation. What you will need to bring in will depend on the issues that you are seeking consultation for. In many cases, you may not have all of the documents or the information that you need at the time of the consult, and that is understandable. Just focus on bringing in as much information as you can off the checklists below, and just note which items you do not have or of which you are unsure.

Divorce

• date of marriage
• county and state of marriage
• date of separation
• spouse's physical address where they can be served
• date of any orders or agreements previously executed that resolved other issues
• whether there are any pending claims for support or property settlement

Property settlement

• deed to marital home
• deeds to other real property owned by your or your spouse
• most recent mortgage statements on real property
• any appraisals of marital home and real property completed in last 5 years
• information on the value of vehicles owned by you and your spouse
• most recent statement showing debt owed on vehicles owned
• checking, saving, and other financial account statements showing balance on date of separation and most current balance
• retirement account statements (includes 401(k)'s, pensions, IRA's, etc.) for you and your spouse showing balance on date of separation and balance on date of marriage if the account was owned at the time you and your spouse were married
• statements reflecting the value of any stock or stock options owned by you or your spouse on date of separation
• information on any other significant assets acquired during the marriage

Child Support

• most recent tax return
• most recent paycheck stub for yourself and the opposing party or information about each person's gross monthly income
• information about how the child or children's health care is covered, what the cost is, and who pays for it
• information about work-related day care costs for the child or children, what the cost is, and who pays for it
• information about any extraordinary expenses paid for the child or children, including private school, therapy, orthodontics, etc.
• a copy of any existing agreement or order in place

Post Separation Support & Alimony

• tax returns for the last 3-5 years
• most recent paycheck stub for yourself and the opposing party or information about each person's gross monthly income
• you and your spouse's work history during the marriage
• any special medical needs you or your spouse has
• information on the current health insurance coverage for you and your spouse

Child Custody

• documentation of any order or existing agreement in place, if there is one
• opposing party's criminal record
• information on any history of drug or alcohol abuse by the opposing party
• information on any history of mental illness by the opposing party
• documentation or information on any incidents of domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect involving the opposing party
• any documentation or information on the opposing party's contact/involvement with the child