My First Appointment: Mediation Preparation
Often times, clients spend too much time gathering documents that I end up not needing. So, the best approach is for us to develop the document list together at our first meeting. Here are some things you can do:
1. When we confirm your appointment, we will email you two forms. It's best if you can fill them out and scan them to us before we meet. If not, please bring with you.
2. Discuss interim financial arrangements (while the divorce is pending and before you commence mediation) and agree that no unusual expenses will be incurred without an agreement.
3. Unless you are in agreement on your respective incomes, assemble all W-2s, K-1s, tax returns and other information so that incomes can be verified for at least the last two years.
4. You should be prepared to provide a preliminary list of your assets and debts. It is helpful for me if you would print out the account statements as I will eventually need the account details. Please capture values all on or about the same date. If you can scan and send to me, I can keep them in your electronic file.
5. Copies of car and house titles will be helpful along with loan balances, if any.
6. If there is a premarital agreement, I will likely need to review it.
7. Any information you might have about the cost of health insurance post-divorce.
8. If you owned any assets at the time of marriage, or inherited any assets, during the marriage, you can try to make a list of such assets for discussion.
9. Credit cards are expensive for the vender (me). That's why I prefer a good old-fashioned check. Some law firms charge a fee to process a credit card. I don't do that, but I do charge for my administrative time. It may only take me five minutes to process your credit card, but at my hourly rate that is costing you about $33.00. So, do us both a favor and bring a check if you can.
Thank you for taking the time to do a bit of mediation preparation before we meet!