Getting the best from your solicitor

Can you assist your divorce lawyer and yourself to prevent unnecessary expense?

We need good instructions from you:

• How much do you know about your finances?
• How much do you know about your husband/wife/partner's finances?

Ensure that when you come to see your solicitor at Pannone you have as much information as possible in relation to your own and your spouse's finances. Our solicitors are much more able to give good advice if we have the fullest possible financial details.

Full disclosure is essential and therefore come prepared. Write out a list of your and your spouse's assets, pensions, income, liabilities and income needs. Gather together documentation in respect of finances:

• a market appraisal of your family home or other properties that you own
• an up to date mortgage statement on any outstanding mortgages
• valuations on any other capital assets
• a cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) in respect of pensions
• if you are in employment, your most recent P60 and your last three wage slips
• if you are self-employed, your last two years' accounts and possibly a brief valuation of your business from your company accountant
• twelve months' statements on any Bank or Building Society account
• an up to date surrender value on any endowment policies
• if you complete a tax return, your most recent completed return and assessment
• a schedule of all shares
• evidence of outstanding loans/credit card debts
• a schedule of your income requirements (not a 'wish list' but based on the lifestyle you have been leading).

Providing this level of documentation for yourself and preferably by agreement, the same level of documentation for your spouse/partner, is an excellent starting point for instructing us.

Even if you do not know the details of your spouse/partner's finances, at least provide this amount of documentation for yourself and as much information as you can in relation to your other half's circumstances.

With full disclosure we can more easily advise upon the resolution of the financial aspect of your separation/divorce.

In addition, write down any questions you would like answering and bring your list with you when you attend to see your solicitor at Pannone. This will hopefully avoid you forgetting those issues which are most important to you.

Following these steps will ensure the meeting with us is more productive.

To arrange a discussion with a family law solicitor click here or call us on 0800 840 4929. We are available to take your call twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.