Preparation for your first meeting with us will ensure we provide cost-effective legal services and you understand the legal process in Australia. In the first consultation, your divorce lawyer will ask several questions – some of them tough, some general – to establish a suitable approach.
Put simply: the more information we have, the better our legal advice will be.
What to bring with you
- Marriage certificate
- Bank statements for the property settlement
- Evidence of jointly owned assets (properties, shares, business interests, cars)
- A list of joint debts (mortgages, tax debts, loans, credit cards)
- Details of any child support being paid
- Copies of previous legal documents
- Court Orders
- Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs or pre-nuptial agreements)
- Financial statements from trust accounts
- Printed copies of recent bank statements
- Superannuation account statements
- Copies of loan documents
- Any other documents you believe will be useful for us in providing legal services
Details you will need to know
- Key dates in your relationship
- When you first got together, moved in, married, separated
- Your and your partners’ gross taxable incomes
- Details of inheritances (money or assets) or gifts obtained during your relationship
- Whether any large sums have been moved from joint bank accounts
- Names of any companies in which you or your ex have an interest and their Directors
- You may also require a financial statement from the company
Additional preparation tips for the property settlement process
- Engage a real estate agent to provide a written appraisal of any properties
- Get copies of your last 3-5 years of tax returns
- Make a list of assets and debts you separately held when you first got together
- Ask your accountant to provide any important documents or information relevant to the divorce process
- Bring any communication (emails, letters, text messages) between you and your ex about family law matters
If you need clarification or need any further information, book in a free 15-minute consult with Leach Legal.
