Ronald S. Heymann Family Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Working as a divorce attorney in Morristown, NJ you find that many clients do not know what materials they should bring to their initial meeting. It helps if clients bring sufficient materials and information to bring their attorney up to speed on their personal situation. These include details regarding the facts of their case, marital assets, and your debts.

If you are meeting with a divorce attorney, as a general guideline, you should bring:

• Your tax returns for the previous three years. Tax returns, W2s, 1099s, and other such documents show much more than merely you and your spouse’s income. They can lead your attorney to pension plans, investments, and other such financial assets. Returns may also help your attorney determine proper amounts of alimony and child support.
• Most recent pension, Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or 401(k) plan statements. Your attorney should examine these statements to determine deposits over the past year, and to learn which deposits are employer contributions or mandatory distributions, as this will have a bearing on the divorce’s financial terms.
• Bank and investment statements. This should include the most recent statements for all checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts (MMAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs). Credit union accounts will also contain vital information regarding loans made through that union. Also, if you or your spouse receives direct deposit, military retirement payments, or Social Security payments, these statements will show it.
• Pay stubs. Bring your last three pay stubs to your initial consultation. These will show if you or your spouse receive bonuses or commissions, are compensated for expenses, receive health benefits and meal plans, or pay retirement deductions. This detailed information will allow your attorney to make educated calculations regarding alimony and child support.
• Real estate documentation. Bring any and all deeds, mortgage statements, and escrow information for all property currently owned by you and your spouse, and for properties either of you have owned in the past. This includes real estate warranty deeds or quitclaim deeds.
• Twelve months worth of credit card statements.
• Car titles, registrations, and notes for automobile loans.

Any consultation with an attorney can be stressful. If you are meeting with a divorce lawyer in Morristown, NJ, or any attorney, be sure to write down any questions or concerns you may have going into your appointment, as this will keep you grounded during the meeting. If custody and parenting issues are part of your dispute, be sure to document your goals and special concerns to these effects.

Heymann & Fletcher
1201 Sussex Tpke # 2
Randolph, NJ 07869
862-781-4079