Finding a family law attorney in Tuscon can be more complicated than you initially think — not because they are hard to find, but because you want to be sure that you are choosing the right lawyer for your situation.
A good divorce attorney such as Elkins & Associates will offer an initial consultation over the phone to get a general idea of how you will work with them, but after this, you will schedule your first actual meeting, which is where you are going to really learn about how things will go. Below are five different tips to make sure that you get the most out of your first meeting, and that you leave with the confidence you need to be sure that you have the help you need and deserve. The most important takeaway here? Be prepared.
1. Write Down All Of Your Questions
Once you are in the meeting, it is almost a natural law that you will not be able to remember all of the questions. It is just as true that you will remember them all as soon as you get back in your car to head home. To avoid this happening to you, write down every question that comes to mind during the days leading up to your meeting. This way you will be able to move through them systematically and can leave your meeting confident that you addressed the big issues that are on your mind.
2. Prepare Your Financial Documents
Most of the biggest issues of a divorce are the finances, and your attorney is going to need to understand what the process is going to look like as early into the divorce as possible. Therefore, gather as much information and documentation about your finances as possible before your first meeting. Although you will be able to provide plenty of information directly to your lawyer, they will be able to gather a lot from these documents as well.
3. Gather Your Tax Returns
Tax returns can tell your lawyer a lot about the overall financial situation that is going to be one of the central issues of your divorce process, and your tax return information will be extremely helpful, especially when paired with the rest of the financial documents that you provided.
4. List Out All Of The Relevant Information About Your Divorce and Marriage
If there are any important details about your marriage and divorce, make sure that you write them down. Your attorney will lead your initial meeting and guide you through the questions that they need answers to, but once you are moving through the meeting you may forget a major detail that will be extremely helpful to your attorney. To avoid this, make sure that you compile as much information in writing as possible so that your attorney has a document with the information that you believe is central to the case.
5. Be Completely Honest
While there are probably plenty of details of your marriage and divorce that may be sensitive, it is absolutely essential that you are completely honest with your attorney. You can be certain of one thing: if you leave out any important details with your lawyer, they will learn about them from your spouse and their attorney instead. Being honest with your attorney is the best way that you can help them prepare for your divorce process without them being caught off-guard about some surprising information that changes the situation.
