The First Consultation Checklist: What to Bring to Your Divorce Lawyer

Your first meeting with a divorce lawyer should give you clear next steps. It should also help your lawyer understand your goals, risks, and family needs. Meeting with Divorce attorneys in Fort Wayne is easier when you bring the right papers and questions.

You do not need to have every answer. You only need to bring what you can find. A good attorney can help fill in the gaps and explain what matters most.

Bring Basic Personal and Marriage Details

Start with the facts. Bring your full legal name, your spouse’s full legal name, birth dates, phone numbers, and current addresses. Also bring your marriage date and the date you separated, if you live apart.

Bring a copy of your marriage certificate if you have it. If there are past court cases, bring those case numbers too. This may include protective orders, child support cases, or prior custody orders.

If you were served with divorce papers, bring every page. Do not leave out cover sheets, summons papers, or court notices. Dates and filing details can affect your next steps.

Gather Financial Records

Money is a key part of most Indiana divorce cases. Bring recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, credit card bills, loan papers, and retirement account records.

Also bring proof of monthly bills. This may include rent, mortgage, car payments, utilities, insurance, daycare, and medical costs.

Indiana courts offer a financial declaration tool that helps share income, expenses, assets, and debts with the court. That is why your lawyer will ask for these details early.

List Assets and Debts

Make a simple list of what you and your spouse own. Include your home, cars, bank accounts, savings, business interests, furniture, tools, jewelry, and retirement funds.

Then list what you owe. Add credit cards, medical bills, student loans, tax debt, car loans, and mortgages. Note whose name is on each account.

Do not guess values if you do not know them. Write “unknown” and move on. Your divorce attorney can help find records later.

Bring Child-Related Information

If you have children, bring their names, ages, school names, daycare details, health needs, and activity schedules. Bring any current custody, parenting time, or support orders.

Write down the schedule your children follow now. Include school days, weekends, holidays, and who handles pickup and drop-off.

Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines are based on the idea that children often benefit from frequent, meaningful, and ongoing contact with each parent. In Allen County, parenting time plans may last for years and can be hard to change later.

Share Safety or Conflict Concerns

Tell your lawyer about abuse, threats, stalking, substance use, hidden money, or unsafe parenting issues. Bring police reports, photos, messages, medical records, or protection orders if you have them.

Do not wait until the end of the meeting to raise safety concerns. These facts may affect filing strategy, custody requests, and temporary orders.

Prepare Your Questions

Write your questions before the consultation. Stress can make it hard to remember details.

Good questions include:

What happens after filing?

How does Indiana divide property?

How may custody and parenting time work?

What can I do if my spouse controls the money?

What should I avoid posting online?

How are attorney fees handled?

The Indiana Judicial Branch says court staff cannot give legal advice, and it suggests speaking with a lawyer before filing court papers.

Be Honest About Your Goals

Tell your lawyer what you want most. You may care about keeping the house, protecting retirement funds, sharing parenting time, or ending the case with less conflict.

Also share what you fear most. A Fort Wayne divorce lawyer can give better advice when they know your full story.

Your first divorce consultation is not a test. It is a planning session. Bring papers, timelines, questions, and a clear view of your needs.

The more you bring, the more useful the meeting can be. With the right prep, you can leave with a better sense of your rights, your options, and your next step under Indiana family law.