Your divorce lawyer is going to ask you to prepare a inventory of your assets and liabilities. Before you visit your lawyer take the time to prepare this list, it will really help to speed up the process. If possible get written evidence of these assets and liabilities. For example your latest bank statement, share certificates, credit card statements, savings account statements, loan contracts, mortgage statements, pension plan information and past years tax returns.

Of most significance is likely to be the most valuable asset you own - your home. Pay particle attention to providing documentation for any assets that you brought into the marriage and if you inherited anything. Such property is yours alone and will not be considered part of the marital estate as long as you have documentation to prove it.



2. Prioritize



Begin to formulate a list of things that are important to you. Prioritize them and focus on the most important. This way you will not get bogged down in a long and drawn out process for things that really have no importance to you personally. To that end figure out what you want to keep from your marriage and what you are willing to let go. Clearly your spouse will also have items they want to keep. In many cases such a list is a good start to divide assets in an amicable way without protracted negotiations through expensive lawyers.




3. Be Reasonable



Be the reasonable person you would like to be negotiating with as your opposite party. Whilst you may have bitter feelings towards your spouse early on, later in life you may regret being unreasonable and cold towards your ex parter. Remember divorce is about the separation of two people, it is not a contest . Being reasonable may mean you get the things you want as part of your separation. Being reasonable will all things to resolve quickly whilst saving heartache, time and of course lawyers bills.


If you have any children be as objective as possible and decide if you want custody of them well ahead of meeting with your lawyer. Think about a reasonable plan for your partner to have visitation rights (if you decide to seek custody) or the proposal you would like if you are to have visitation rights (where you are not seeking custody of the children). This simple practical, although clearly emotional, step can save months of emotional pain, not to mention expensive lawyer time



Your lawyer is going to be paid by the hour. If you prepare by being organized, prioritize and are reasonable you will certainly keep down your legal costs by speeding up the divorce process.