If you have reached the point where you are considering divorce, you are probably undergoing an emotional and stressful time in your life. Though it will be difficult, you will need to sort out your emotions from the facts in order to proceed, because even in family law matters, the Court uses a rational businesslike approach. The advice and involvement of an experienced family law attorney can help.

The job of your attorney is to counsel you on the relevant issues of your case and to help you assess your situation, using reason rather than emotion. Many people are surprised by what they learn during an initial consultation. An experienced attorney is trained to apply the law to your particular situation and to work with you to obtain the best result possible.

After you decide to make an appointment for your initial consultation, create a timetable of the events that caused you to turn to a lawyer for advice in the first place. During the discussion, address issues that might have consequences in the outcome of your case. Do not worry about shocking the lawyer. An experienced attorney has probably already heard a similar story. It is important for you to be forthcoming and honest. If your attorney does not know all the facts, she cannot be as effective as possible. Remember that your communication with your attorney is confidential.

Give your attorney a head start on the discovery process by preparing financial records for your initial consultation. This should include:

• A copy of any domestic contract such as a pre-nuptial agreement
• A copy of any prior legal proceeding between you and your spouse
• Copies of your federal and state income tax returns for the past 5 years, including W-2's, 1099's and K-1's
• Copies of any partnership or corporate tax returns for the past 5 years
• Copies of any balance sheets and profit & loss statements for any business for the past 5 years
• Evidence of year-to-date income
• Copies of any recent financial statements (e.g., loan application for purchase or refinance of home)
• Current brokerage and bank account statements, certificates of deposit
• Retirement information for 401K accounts, pension plans, and IRAs
• Documents pertaining to real estate, such as deeds, loan applications and appraisals
• A budget of your average monthly living expenses based on the prior 12 months
• Documents showing any debts

If you cannot obtain this information, then inform your attorney during the initial consultation where your spouse banks and invests, the name of his or her accountant and the name of any companies in which your spouse has an ownership interest.

You should not be afraid to ask questions during your initial consultation. You may want to write down any questions you want to ask before your come to your first consultation to assure that all your concerns are addressed. The best results are obtained when you participate with your attorney throughout the process.