| It is important for your lawyer to be prepared for court. | | | | a fair division of property. If you have documents that |
| He should be comfortable with the documents that | | | | tell the story, you will have better evidence to prove |
| prove your case, and what to ask the witnesses who | | | | your point than if you just testify to what you believe. |
| are going to testify. However, like a good patient | | | | 4. Make a list of your furniture, furnishings, household |
| should understand his illness to better effect a cure, | | | | goods and personal effects. Take pictures or video if |
| you should be ready for court as well so that you can | | | | at all possible. Get these things appraised if they are |
| help protect your interests. | | | | the least bit valuable. If not, just estimate what they are |
| The most important thing you can do is have the | | | | worth using garage sale or auction values as a guide. |
| same file as your attorney. Keep the originals of all of | | | | Clearly show what items you want to keep, and what |
| your documents, and index them so you can find them. | | | | items you would propose to give to your spouse. |
| Follow along with the testimony, and be able to point | | | | Again, the judge's ability to make a decision will hinge |
| things out that disprove your spouse's side of | | | | on what information is provided. If you have these |
| contested issues. | | | | clearly set out, you make it easier for the judge to |
| Have the following documents available and make | | | | justify ruling in your favor. |
| sure you have provided copies to your lawyer | | | | 5. Have copies of all of your bills. Include credit card |
| 1. Mortgage agreements, real estate sales contracts, | | | | statements, mortgage payments, car payments, |
| deeds, amortization schedules, property tax receipts, | | | | installment purchases, doctor bills, monthly prescription |
| insurance premiums, real estate appraisals, and repair | | | | expenses, money judgments, utility bills, and anything |
| estimates. The judge won't be able to make a good | | | | else that can help the judge figure out how much |
| decision about your real estate unless you can show | | | | money you have to spend each month to survive. This |
| what it is worth, how much is owed on it, and what | | | | information could be highly relevant to what bills you |
| repairs it will need before it can be sold. This is true | | | | are ordered to pay, and what bills are assigned to your |
| whether or not you plan to keep it, sell it, or fight for it | | | | spouse. This information could also be helpful if issues |
| because your spouse wants it too. | | | | like child support or alimony are to be considered. |
| 2. Car titles, appraisals, repair estimates, proof of | | | | You may feel that you hired a lawyer to keep track of |
| insurance and its cost. In general, you will want to keep | | | | these things so you shouldn't have to. You may be |
| the car you usually drive. However, if one of the | | | | convinced that doing these things is a new form of |
| vehicles is worth more than the other, or the debt | | | | torture that makes water boarding seem like a cake |
| attached to it makes it worth less, you will want to be | | | | walk.However, your lawyer and the judge have only a |
| able to prove to the judge why you think she should | | | | limited time to get to know you and your case. No |
| rule in a particular way. | | | | matter how hard they work for you, or try to protect |
| 3. The tax returns and W-2s for both of you, | | | | your interests, there is only so much they can do just |
| documents showing the value of savings accounts, | | | | by asking questions and reading papers. If you are |
| checking accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of | | | | familiar with your own business, and knowledgeable |
| deposit, IRA accounts, pension plans, 401k plans or | | | | about where and what you may need to prove a |
| other retirement accounts, inheritances, or other money | | | | point, you could be your own best advocate, and be |
| accounts. Again, the judge needs to know what these | | | | more likely to get the results you want. |
| items are worth and where they came from to make | | | | |