What to Expect in Your First Consultation with a Divorce Attorney

Taking that first step and meeting with an Illinois divorce attorney can be stressful or can provide peace of mind or a little of each.    

When you work with Diamond Legal, you should consider us not only your lawyers but also coaches to help you navigate your way through the process. We are a dedicated family and divorce firm in McHenry County. 

We help Illinois families get through all aspects of divorce and family law issues by listening, working closely with every client, and making sure each and every client gets the support and resources they need.

What to Bring to Your Initial Divorce Consultation

Before your initial consultation, we do a conflict check to verify that no conflicts of interest exist and that we can represent you.  We also like to get some preliminary information relating to your case, such as personal history, income, etc. When children are involved, there is additional information that we’ll ask for before the initial consultation.

Once your consultation is scheduled, we will send you a questionnaire that facilitates your providing us with all of this information. By doing this, we can get some idea of what is going to be involved, what matters may be contested, and what matters may be agreed upon.

This initial documentation will help you get your divorce underway. 

1. General Questions

The questionnaire will ask you to provide relevant details about your current marital and family status, past marriages, and ongoing health conditions of you and your spouse. If you have been previously married, we will ask you to provide pertinent details about prior divorces.

We also request that you provide the ages, residency status and special needs, if any, of your children. 

2. Goals and Questions You Have Regarding the Divorce Process

Your Diamond Divorce Lawyer will be working closely with you on your divorce and will try to help you achieve the results you want.  We’d like to get an idea of what you want your life to look like after this divorce. These goals may involve finances, property division, custody and/or visitation, and so forth. 

Try to have an idea of what you expect and need from the divorce and make sure to share this with your attorney at the initial consultation.  We cannot help you get what you want if we don’t know what that is. Communication is a key element in a successful divorce.

After your initial consultation, we will ask you to gather personal and financial records so that we can develop an accurate and complete picture of your situation. 

Here is a list of some of the documents and information we gather after your initial consultation.

 NOTE: When you work with our team, you don’t have to bring these documents to your initial consultation.  However, you will need to provide them early in the process, so you may want to start setting these documents aside as you come across them.

3. Financial Documents

You will need to provide details about the household finances. This financial information will help us determine child support, alimony (spousal support), asset division, and a number of other issues concerning your divorce.

As your divorce attorney, it will be helpful for us to review these types of documents:

• Pay stubs,
• Credit card bills,
• Investment records,
• Retirement plan/pension statements,
• IRA statements,
• Bank statements,
• Mortgage paperwork, and
• Documentation of monthly expenses.

4. Legal Documents

You will need to provide us with copies of all legal documents, including:

• Your marriage certificate (from Illinois or otherwise);
• Prenuptial agreements;
• Children’s birth certificates;
• Wills, living wills and trusts;
• Power of attorney forms;
• Any other legal documents relevant to the marriage and divorce; and
• If applicable, police reports or arrest records.

5. List of Personal Property

Personal property includes everything from home furnishings and jewelry to electronics and other high-value items.  Don’t forget the family dog Fido when listing your personal property.  You will need to document any property that was owned by either party before the marriage so that the attorney can differentiate between marital property and non-marital property, i.e, personal property that was owned before marriage.

6. Insurance Policies

Any insurance policies you have will need to be considered and discussed as part of the divorce process.  

These policies could include:

• Automobile insurance;
• Homeowners’ insurance;
• Life insurance policies; 
• Health insurance
• Other insurance.

Contact an Illinois Divorce Lawyer Today

Diamond Legal has helped families through hundreds of divorces in Illinois. Our compassionate attorneys understand you are going through a challenging time, and we will work to help you get through your divorce. Our attorneys handle the entire divorce process, from property division and alimony (spousal support) to child support and custody, and we always put you and your family’s interests first. Call our office today to schedule your first consultation with a divorce lawyer.

DISCLAIMER: Any information contained herein is solely for informational purposes. While it is important that you educate yourself, nothing herein should be construed as legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For specific questions, we urge you to contact a local attorney for advice pertaining to your specific legal needs.