Here’s how to get the most from your initial meeting with a solicitor to discuss divorce
The divorce and separation process can cause many people to suffer from loss and grief which makes it difficult to cope. Parties to a divorce can often struggle with communication and addressing issues that need to be sorted out.
It is not uncommon for both parties to be in denial about the reality of the issues they are facing and during this period of grief and emotional turbulence, it is also likely that family and friends will be shut out.
As family law solicitors, we are aware that when initiating a divorce, you are likely to be struggling through a period of grief which is why we are there to direct you and support you on how to cope with the practical side of things.
The preliminary meeting with your solicitors, in which you initiate divorce proceedings and disclose the details of your situation, is a crucial opportunity to make it clear what you want out of the divorce or respective financial proceedings. This gives your solicitor a clear indication of what they need to do to help you achieve your desired outcome.
To make the most of your first meeting, you should make sure you bring along as much information as possible to share with them. The more information your solicitor is provided with will speed up the process of them being able to efficiently initiate your divorce proceedings.
Please see some tips below:
What kind of information do I need to bring to my first meeting with my divorce solicitor?
- The date you got married or began living together (cohabiting), and the date of separation.
- Your occupation and that of your former partner, more specifically your job roles, respective salaries and type of contract (part-time/full-time).
- The names and ages of any children that you have together.
- If you and your former partner currently have a childcare agreement or if you have had any discussions about future child care arrangements.
- You would need to disclose if you and your former partner have any existing prenuptial or postnuptial agreements or any other type of more informal agreements relating to your assets and/or children.
- A detailed summary of any assets (joint and separate). These can typically include properties, pensions, business, loans, cars and mortgages/liabilities.
Important things to consider when discussing your divorce:
- Try to be honest about your situation and what you really want to achieve.
- Aim to be transparent about the issues you have been facing in the relationship so that your solicitor can help you the best they can.
- Remember that you may need to be patient as the typical divorce process can take up to 6-9 months and possibly longer, if the financial arrangements cannot be agreed.
- It is worth considering mediation as this can help to avoid prolonged conflict and reach an amicable solution.
This publication has been produced by Kathryn Coyle a family lawyer at Kidd Rapinet Maidenhead. It is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. You can arrange an appointment with any of the family lawyers across our other offices in Aylesbury, Canary Wharf, Farnham, High Wycombe, or Slough, using the form provided. Please use the links provided to find more information on divorce or separation, child arrangements and other areas of family law.
These materials and content have been prepared for the benefit of their viewers/readers. They are intended for marketing purposes only and are of a general nature and do not constitute legal advice applicable to any particular facts or circumstances. Kidd Rapinet LLP and/or the author(s) accept no duty of care, responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which you or any third party may suffer as a result of any reliance or use by you or them of these marketing materials and content, except to the extent it is not legally possible to exclude such liability. If you require legal advice on your own situation, please contact us so we can discuss how we may assist.