Key Documents for a Cerritos Divorce Consultation
An initial consultation with a Cerritos divorce lawyer could be easier if you bring certain documents. A consultation with a divorce attorney is an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your unique situation, and these discussions may be more productive if you can provide your lawyer with various written records.
If you’re ready to schedule a consultation, consider RM Law Group, LLP – an established divorce law firm in Cerritos. Co-founders Jason Martinez and Michael Recinos have considerable experience with trials, high-net-worth divorce, and much more.
Tax Documents
It may be helpful to refer to tax documents during your first consultation. These might include personal tax returns, property tax statements, corporate tax returns, and anything else you might have received from the IRS over the years.
Tax documents often provide a useful “snapshot” of a family’s financial affairs. They could also highlight various shared and separate assets, including ones that your ex is trying to conceal. At the very least, tax documents should help the lawyer get a sense of how much you could receive in child support, spousal support, and property division.
Income Documents
Income documents could also be helpful. These might include pay stubs, employment agreements, and so on. If your spouse is a business owner, you might need to bring documents that highlight business earnings, dividends, share structures, and so on.
Investment Documents
You might also want to bring any documents or statements that show investments held in the family estate. These might be stocks, treasury bills, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, bonds, and so on. Some of these investments may create clear “paper trails,” while others may not. For example, cryptocurrencies are infamously “de-centralized” with few records. The same logic might apply to precious metals sitting in a safe or safety deposit box. Do your best to collect as much documentation as you can before your first consultation.
Mortgage Documents
The family home is often the most important piece of property in a divorce. As a result, you should pay close attention to mortgage documents and any other documentation that involves your family residence. It may be especially important to determine when the property was purchased – and who purchased it.
Marriage Documents
You should also bring your marriage certificate with you to your first consultation if possible. The exact date of your marriage could be an important factor as you approach property division. Some spouses discover that their marriage was never legitimate in the first place – and these individuals may need to pursue “annulments” instead of divorcing. Another related document is a prenuptial agreement if you have one.
Contact an Established Divorce Law Firm in Cerritos
If you’re serious about scheduling your first consultation with a Cerritos divorce lawyer, contact RM Law Group, LLP today at 866-706-3160. Our experienced divorce attorneys can provide guidance and advice during this initial meeting – and you can decide on the next steps. Reach out today to get started.
