Preparing for Your First Meeting at Leach Legal

Good preparation makes your first meeting with a family lawyer more useful and more cost-effective, and it helps you understand the process. In the first consultation, your lawyer will ask a range of questions to work out the right approach. The more information you can bring, the sharper the advice will be, and this is especially true where business interests, trusts or a complex asset pool are involved. You will not always have every document to hand, and that is fine: bring what you can, and your lawyer will help you obtain the rest. Preparation is the simplest way to make the first meeting count.

What to bring 

Your lawyer needs a clear picture of what you own and owe, so bring the documents that establish the asset pool:

• marriage certificate 
• bank statements for the property settlement 
• evidence of jointly owned assets, such as property, shares, business interests and cars 
• a list of joint debts, such as mortgages, tax debts, loans and credit cards 
• details of any child support being paid 
• copies of previous legal documents, including court orders and binding financial agreements 
• financial statements from trust accounts 
• recent superannuation statements 
• loan documents 
• any other documents you think will help 

Details to know 

It also helps to have the key facts of your relationship and finances at hand, since dates and income figures shape how a settlement is assessed: 

• key dates, such as when you got together, moved in, married and separated 
• your and your partner’s gross taxable incomes 
• details of any inheritances or gifts received during the relationship 
• whether any large sums have been moved from joint accounts 
• the names of any companies you or your ex hold an interest in, and their directors 

Preparing for a property settlement 

For the property settlement itself, a little extra preparation goes a long way and can speed up the advice you receive: 

• engage a real estate agent for a written appraisal of any property 
• gather your last three to five years of tax returns 
• list the assets and debts each of you held separately at the start of the relationship 
• ask your accountant for any documents relevant to the matter 
• bring any communication with your ex about family law matters 

Bring your questions too 

A first meeting is also your chance to ask questions, so write them down beforehand. Ask about the likely process and timeframe, the strengths and risks in your position, how property and any business interests are usually dealt with, and what the next steps would be. The clearer you are about what you want to understand, the more useful the meeting will be, and the less likely you will need a follow-up just to cover the basics. 

In the meeting, your lawyer uses this information to map the asset pool, identify the main issues, and set out your options. The more complete the picture you provide, the less time is spent gathering basics and the more is spent on advice. It also keeps costs down, since your lawyer is not spending chargeable time chasing information you could have brought. 

If you own a business or hold interests through a company or trust, bring the relevant financial statements and be ready to discuss company structures and directorships. Your lawyer may also ask for a financial statement from the entity, so it helps to know who the directors are. The clearer the financial picture, the sooner your lawyer can advise on protecting your position and business continuity. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Leach Legal to get started.