| An initial meeting with a divorce attorney in Fresno can | | | | initiating the divorce or reacting to divorce papers that |
| be rife with emotion. You may ask yourself, Is this | | | | you were served? How do all parties |
| meeting the beginning of the end? Or, Am I dedicated | | | | involved—spouses, children, extended family and |
| to working with this lawyer because we are having | | | | closest friends—feel about the situation? |
| this discussion? | | | | 2) Physical circumstances: Is everyone comfortably |
| The response to each questions is most probably no. | | | | housed, or is one member living away already? Is |
| The beginning of the end, if that is where this is | | | | everyone safe? Are the children traumatized? Is your |
| proceeding, was likely months or even years ago. By | | | | financial situation shaky in such a way that it could |
| meeting with a divorce lawyer, you are learning about | | | | affect where you live in the immediate future? |
| the choices in front of you, how you may find | | | | 3) Relevant financial summaries: Annual or most-recent |
| resolution in what is without doubt a complicated | | | | quarterly statements of investments, mortgage |
| situation. Many couples, when they understand the | | | | statements and property title of the primary and |
| options, begin to re-evaluate the dynamics of their | | | | secondary residences, credit card and other debt |
| marriages and decide to stay together. Frequently, | | | | statements and any further documents that can |
| they agree to a trial separation with a separation | | | | present a snapshot of family finances are extremely |
| agreement that can be reversed, or furnish the | | | | relevant to a divorce proceeding. |
| template for the final divorce decree. | | | | 4) Timeline of the marriage: Include when important |
| A wise client is one who looks at many available | | | | events such as schooling, major purchases, income |
| options in lawyers and makes a decision based on | | | | and investments were made during the length of the |
| various criteria. But presuming you are set on which | | | | marriage. If one spouse worked while the other |
| lawyer you are working with, you must then get ready | | | | obtained an advanced education, it is an important |
| for a first working meeting, where important matters | | | | point. |
| need to be taken care of. | | | | With this information, the attorney can assess the |
| Several issues to consider in advance of your meeting: | | | | family situation and put together the most desirable |
| 1) Psychological factors of everyone involved: Are you | | | | strategy for moving forward. |