If you believe that your divorce will be a contested one, it may be a good idea to have a New Jersey attorney represent your interests. During an initial consultation, a lawyer can review the case and create a legal strategy that meets your needs and overall objectives. Let’s take a closer look at what you should bring to an initial consultation so that you can get the most from it.
Bring copies of any financial documents that you can find
Your financial circumstances will likely play a significant role in your ability to obtain alimony from your current spouse. It may also determine the size of such a payment and how long you will receive them. Furthermore, your financial circumstances may also determine how much of the marital estate you may be entitled to receive. Relevant documents may include bank statements, tax returns and pay stubs. You may also want to bring any records that may make it easier to determine if an asset should be considered separate or marital property.
Do you have the title to a given asset?
If possible, bring copies of the deed to a home or vehicle that was purchased during the marriage. These documents may help to verify who owns these items and if there are any liens attached to them. Knowing these things is important because an asset with a lien may be harder to transfer or sell after the divorce decree is issued.
Typically, it’s easier to get a favorable divorce settlement when you can provide strong evidence to back your claims for alimony or a significant portion of a marital estate. Ideally, you will start to gather relevant documents the moment that you believe your marriage is likely coming to an end.