How Do I Prepare for My First Meeting with a Lawyer?: Difference between revisions

The lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> need to know certain basic facts about you and your relationship, particularly if there is a chance the lawyer <span class="noglossary">will</span> be starting a court proceeding on your behlaf, so make sure you either have them at the tips of your fingers or have them written down:

#your address, occupation, annual income and date of birth;

#your spouse's full name, address, occupation, annual income and date of birth;

#the date each of you began living in British Columbia;

#the date the two of you started to live together;

#if you're married, the date of your marriage and the name of the city or town you got married in;

#the date of your separation, if you're separated;

#the full names and birthdates of any children;

#the care arrangements that are presently in place for the children;

#your surname at birth and your surname before you got married, if you are married;

#your spouse's surname at birth and his or her surname before you got married, if you are married;

#whether you were unmarried, divorced or widowed when you married, if you are married;

#whether your spouse was unmarried, divorced or widowed when you married, if you are married;

#the approximate balance of all financial accounts, including savings, RRSP and investment accounts, and the names of the financial institutions holding the accounts;

#approximate credit card balances, and the names of the credit card companies;

#the balances of any loans and lines of credit;

#the full details about any personal and family debts;

#basic information about any stock or bond portfolios;

#whether either of you have a pension and, if so, the name of the pension plan;

#the addresses of any real estate either of you might own and information about how those properties are owned;

#the approximate market value of any real estate and the amount of any mortgages;

#the full details about any assets or property that either of you own that is located outside British Columbia;

#any health concerns about you, your spouse and the children;

#any pending financial risks, like bankruptcy or a loss of employment;

#any pending personal risks, such as risk of abuse or the abduction of the children; and,

#the Notice of Family Claim;

#the Response to Family Claim;

#the Counterclaim, if any;

#any Financial Statements that may have been prepared;

#a copy of all orders made so far; and,

#if you're seeing the lawyer about an interim application, a copy of the Notice of Application and the supporting Affidavits.

#the Application to Obtain an Order or the Application to Change an Order;

#the Reply;

#any Financial Statements that may have been prepared;

#a copy of all orders made so far; and,

#a copy of any offers made so far; and,

#your original Certificate of Marriage (the ugly brown government document, not the flowery document you might have received from whomever performed the marriage); and,