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Preparation PackFamily LawMedium
Lawyer To Divorce Preparation Checklist
Prepare for a divorce-law consultation by organising marriage records, children’s information, finances, property, maintenance, parenting, settlement, and court-document questions.
Time to prepare2-4 hours
Before you contact a lawyer
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Before the consultation
0/4 completedDuring the consultation
0/3 completedAfterwards
0/3 completedWhen It Applies
You are preparing to speak to a lawyer about divorce, separation, parenting, maintenance, or settlement.
You need to organise facts and documents before choosing a divorce lawyer or family-law route.
Not For
- Emergency safety issues, child abduction, or urgent court relief without immediate help.
Documents
- ID documents
- Marriage certificate
- Antenuptial contract
- Birth certificates
- Divorce papers
- Existing court orders
- Payslips
- Bank statements
- Expense schedule
- Property records
- Pension or policy records
- Parenting records
Timeline
- Before consultation: identify stage, urgent dates, and core documents.
- During consultation: confirm route and missing records.
- After consultation: calendar dates and update financial/parenting records.
- Before signing: check settlement wording carefully.
Tips
- Separate child, money, property, and process questions.
- Bring income and expense records for maintenance questions.
- Keep communication factual and date-based.
- Tell the lawyer immediately if safety, relocation, or withheld-contact risk exists.
Warning Signs
- There is domestic violence, child-safety, relocation, or withheld-contact risk.
- Court papers or maintenance dates are close.
- A settlement is being pushed urgently.
- Property, pension, trust, company, or foreign-asset issues are involved.
Official sources
- Department of Justice Family AdvocateChild-related family-law process context.
- Department of Justice maintenanceMaintenance process context.
- Department of Justice maintenance formsMaintenance-document context.
This checklist is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
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