Divorce lawyer consultation checklist: what to prepare and bring

• Choose two or three lawyers to meet, not one.
• Check each lawyer’s license and any public discipline with the official source: your state’s lookup in the U.S. (how) or your law society in Canada (how).
• Ask what the first consultation costs and how long it lasts.
• When you book, mention any court date or deadline you already know about.

Want the core questions on one page? Get the free consultation sheet by email.

• Date of marriage, and date of separation if any.
• State or province, and county or region, where you live.
• Children: number and ages.
• Your work and approximate income, and your spouse’s.
• Main assets, with rough values: home, retirement accounts, savings.
• Main debts, with rough amounts: mortgage, loans, cards.
• Any existing court orders or written agreements.

• Any court papers you have received or filed.
• Recent tax returns and pay stubs.
• Recent bank, investment and retirement statements.
• Mortgage, loan and credit card statements.
• Any prenuptial or other agreement between you.
• A one-page timeline of important dates and events.

Ask the lawyer what else they need. Keep originals at home, and keep your notes somewhere private.

• You are covered by your spouse’s health insurance.
• One of you owns a business, or an asset that may need a professional valuation.
• One of you may move with the children.
• You have concerns about safety, for you or for the children.

If you are in danger, contact emergency services first. In the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 (thehotline.org); in Canada, sheltersafe.ca lists the help lines for each province and territory.

• Ask every lawyer the same questions: see questions to ask a divorce lawyer.
• Write down the answers on fees, the retainer and who does the work.
• Ask for the fee agreement so you can read it at home before you sign.

• Note what you learned the same day, in the same format for each lawyer.
• Compare the lawyers side by side before deciding.
• Read the engagement agreement line by line, and ask about anything unclear.