Dividing marital property is one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of getting divorced. Both parties want to be sure they receive a fair settlement that protects them financially in the future. Prior to meeting with an attorney to discuss your marital property and possible division options, it is important to prepare yourself. The attorney you retain must have access to accurate information prior to drafting a settlement offer to discuss with your spouse’s attorney. Failure to document all marital property, provide your attorney with key details, or do anything else that can place your attorney at a disadvantage may delay your divorce and possibly affect your ability to get the property division you desire.
Create a Wish List
People involved in a contested divorce rarely receive everything they request, but it is still a good idea to let your attorney know what you want. It is possible that you and your spouse do not want the same property or have a similar idea about what constitutes a fair division. Telling your attorney what property settlement you prefer along with what you are prepared to live with will help your attorney determine what items to request or fight for. If your attorney does not know what you want, he or she will have a harder time negotiating or responding to the proposals made by your spouse or his or her attorney.
Prepare a List of Assets with Values
The attorney you consult must know how much property is involved in the divorce and what the property is worth. Creating a list of marital assets and their values will help your attorney during negotiations. The list should include property owned jointly, things acquired during the marriage, and all bank accounts or retirement accounts. Even though some accounts may not need to be divided, it is important that you fully disclose all property and allow your attorney to tell you what should be excluded rather than make the determination on your own. Using a property checklist will decrease your chances of omitting valuable property that should be considered during your divorce.
Make a List of Questions
Meeting with a divorce attorney to discuss property division requires spending a lot of time discussing your marital assets, but you must also be prepared to ask questions. An attorney who is used to dealing with divorce and property division is not always going to remember to provide you with answers to all of your questions. Writing down a list of questions regarding asset disclosure, time frames, or anything relevant to dividing your assets will increase your chances of remembering to ask about these things during your consultation. Though it is always possible to call your attorney later, talking to his or her in person about important matters can often provide you with much needed stress relief.
Scheduling an Appointment
Once you are ready to discuss dividing marital property, contact a qualified division of property attorney. The attorneys at Vayman & Teitelbaum understand how stressful it is to deal with dividing joint property during a divorce. We are prepared to fight to get you the settlement you deserve. With four offices located through Atlanta, we are available to discuss your divorce and answer your property-related questions. Contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment.