Preparing to Meet Your Family Law Attorney: What Documents to Bring?

June 5, 2019

How Long Does it Take?

Beginning any meeting prepared contributes to you feeling more relaxed, having a better understanding of what’s taking place, and ensuring a productive use of both your time and that of your attorney.  Below you will find a list of documents.   The more you’ll able to bring with you to any first meeting, the more information your attorney will have to proceed.


If you’re going through divorce, feeling relaxed or having a solid understanding of that’s taking place are not common experiences.  Fortunately, attorney Brendan Riley with Stewart & Riley, has experience in the handling of family law matters.  As such, he can work as your guide in helping to navigate the divorce process in Florida.  The benefit to having an attorney assist in your divorce cannot be understated.  Please reconsider making the same mistake too people make in believing they can handle their divorce on their own; especially if children are involved.


If you’re considering proceeding with your divorce, actually referred to dissolution of marriage, in Florida on your own, meaning Pro Se, please reconsider.  We encourage you to reconsider representing yourself whether you select our firm or not.  Yes, we understand the interest in doing so may indeed be bolstered by what you may recover through searching online.  We understand Florida Family law forms are available on the internet (what isn’t?).


While we encourage reviewing information available on websites where such documents are available, we do not encourage completing the documents on your own and proceeding unrepresented.  Please know the forms and the instructions contain the bare minimum amount of information.  Relying on the bare minimum amount of information when proceeding through something as serious as a divorce is unwise.


A good comparison to proceeding with a divorce unrepresented could be made in considering an event leaving your car in need of extensive repair.   There was likely an owner’s manual in the glovebox when you bought the car.  If something seriously went wrong with your car, meaning more than a flat tire, would you simply consult the owner’s manual to complete the repair?  Probably not; and for good reason.  The reasons for retaining counsel for your divorce are even more important, but people make such avoidable mistakes all the time.   In the example referring to your vehicle, more likely than not, you’d hire a mechanic.


It’s worth bringing your attention to the purpose the form for obtaining a divorce were made available to public.  The forms are intended to provide those who lack any financial means whatsoever; lacking the resources whereby an agreement could be reached concerning payment to pay attorney fees, even in the event of agreement concerning installment payments, some means of resolution concerning a family law matter.


In order to speak with Brendan Riley and obtain a free consultation, we encourage you to contact Brendan Riley’s office through the links provided in this article, visiting www.bettercallbrendan.com through another device, or calling 727-312-3748.


When an initial consultation is scheduled, you will have an opportunity to discuss your case and circumstances


There is information available online concerning obtaining a divorce in Florida without an attorney.  The forms are intended to provide those who lack any financial means whatsoever; lacking the resources whereby an agreement could be reached concerning payment of their attorney fees in installments.  Such an arrangement is not for everyone, but the only way to know for sure is to contact Brendan Riley’s office through the links provided in this article, visiting www.bettercallbrendan.com through another device, or calling 727-312-3748.  When an initial consultation is scheduled, you will have an opportunity to discuss your case and circumstances.


To help prepare for your first, meeting, please review the list of documents below.  Please know it is entirely fine if you don’t have any number of the documents listed.  We’re simply trying to provide you with some direction in terms of making the process of your divorce go as smoothly and quickly as possible.  You can print this article and check the boxes if you prefer.  Note - if it does not apply to your situation, write in N/A:


____ Individual income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)


____ Business income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)


____ Proof of your current income


____ Proof or spouse’s current income


____ Prenuptial agreement, if already drafted


____ Divorce decrees from previous marriages


____ Bank statements


____ Certificates of deposit


____ Pension statements


____ Retirement account statements


____ Trusts


____ Stock portfolios


____ Stock options


____ Mortgages


____ Property tax statements


____ Credit card statements


____ Loan documents


____ Utility bills


____ Other bills (e.g., school tuition, unreimbursed medical bills, etc.)


____ Monthly budget worksheet


____ Completed financial statements


____ Employment contracts


____ Benefits statements


____ Life insurance policies


____ Health insurance policies


____ Homeowner’s insurance policies


____ Automobile insurance policies


____ Personal property appraisals


____ Real property appraisals


____ List of personal property, including home furnishings, jewelry, artwork, computers, home office equipment, clothing and furs, etc.


____ List of property owned by each spouse prior to marriage


____ List of contents of safety deposit boxes


____ Wills


____ Living Wills


____ Powers of Attorney


____ Durable Powers of Attorney


____ Advance Health Care Directive

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