Pre-divorce planning and document review is a must.  You can’t build a house without a proper set of plans, nor can you do a divorce without complete and accurate financial information. 

The easiest and least costly way of going through the divorce process is to have complete financial information available to your attorney at the beginning of his representation.  He should assist you in completing a questionnaire. 

Don’t be concerned if you do not have all of the needed information.  It is usually available through your accountants, bookkeepers, or other professionals involved with  your business or real estate. 

The attorney should be skilled at acquiring the information necessary for asset valuation to evaluate and testify concerning assets.  Documents and financial information are the critical foundation for planning your divorce.  The better the information, and the faster it is produced, the better the experienced attorney will be able to do the divorce faster, without expense, and with greater precision. 

Additionally, in a pre-divorce planning session, the attorney should be able, after receiving a reasonable amount of financial information, to predict within a range the ultimate outcome of your case. 

Take Away: Experienced attorneys should know how to be cost effective and advise you in great detail about the potential outcomes of your case, and the costs involved.