If you’re thinking about filing for divorce, there are three things you should do before you talk to a divorce lawyer. These three actions will simplify the legal process and significantly lower your legal costs.

Organize your documents:

One of the first things your divorce attorney is going to request that you do is organize a list of your marital assets and liabilities. Therefore, organizing your documents is one of the most effective things you can do before you talk to a lawyer.To get well organized you’ll need written evidence proving all assets and liabilities you and your spouse own. Examples of the kind of documents you’ll want include bank statements, credit card statements, loan documents, deeds, car titles, etc.

You should also have copies of your tax returns for the last few years, statements for your retirement accounts, pension plans and IRA accounts.
You want to give special attention to documenting any property you brought into the marriage or received as part of an inheritance. That property is your separate property and is not distributed with the marital estate. You do, however, need the documents to prove that it’s your separate property.

Set your priorities:

It’s very easy to get bogged down in the process of obtaining a divorce. You can avoid that by determining priorities. In other words, determine what is important to you. Accept the fact that all the marital assets will be divided. You just need to determine what you want to keep and what you’re willing to let your spouse have. But don’t get carried away. You won’t be able to keep everything you want. Your spouse will also get some things.

Be reasonable:

Approaching your divorce as a rational person will help you resolve the case rapidly. You would like to get on with the rest of your life, wouldn’t you? To be rational you’ll have to think of what’s important to your spouse, not just what’s important to you. While you may detest your spouse, you still have to achieve an agreement on the division of marital property, the residence, child custody, support and visitation. A huge part of the success of such agreements depends on how rational you are in the negotiation process.

Don’t forget that you’re paying your divorce lawyer by the hour. You’ll be able to finish your case quickly, keep your legal costs low and maintain your personal sanity if you’ll simply get organized before you file, determine your priorities in the case and maintain a reasonable approach in your negotiations.

Tags : Divorce Attorney, Divorce Lawyer