Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Getting a Divorce in Southern California? Organize This Info Now!

By Jon D. Alexander, Esq.

If you are getting divorced in Orange County, California you'll need to prepare relevant information for your first meeting with your attorney. Your Attorney will likely have you fill out a form and go over it with you. This article will give you an idea of the sorts of documentation and information that you should bring to your first consultation. Also included below is a link to a Judicial Council Form provided by the Superior Court of Orange County that many attorneys use for just this purpose.

You will need the following types of information:

1. Personal: Social Security Numbers for all family members, dates of birth, date of marriage, and date of separation;

2. Property: Family Residence and who owns it (or leases), mortgage or rent amount, loan balance, source of funds for purchase and mortgage payments, value of home, other Real Estate, household furnishing and approximate value, automobiles, life insurance, bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, pensions, assets of children, other assets, and a description of whether the above is separate property;

3. obligations: debts - make sure you include the date incurred, the purpose, the due date, and the terms of repayment.

4. income: here you include your employer, your spouse's employer, type of occupation amount of monthly income, your withholdings, and if you currently are unemployed make sure you include an explanation of why, and lastly include the number of exemptions.

5. Liquid assets: for example bonds, stocks, cash, checking accounts, life insurance.

6. monthly expenses: the list is too long to be contained in this article. However, I've included a link below make sure you visit and view the list to get an idea of the numerous types of items you will want to consider.

If you have this information at your disposal and you have filled out the linked form, you will save your attorney time which will save you money. It follows that the more information you have prepared and organized the less time you are turning will have to spend compiling and organizing and preparing your case. - 15437

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