Most people walk into their first divorce consultation completely unprepared. They spend $300/hr while their attorney asks basic questions they could've answered ahead of time.

Here are the 5 things you should have organized before you ever sit down with a lawyer:

1. Last 3 years of tax returns — Not just the filing, but W-2s and 1099s too. This establishes the income baseline.

2. A list of all joint accounts — Bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts. Include rough balances. Your attorney needs this on day one.

3. Property documentation — Mortgage statements, car titles, lease agreements. Anything with both names on it.

4. Monthly expense breakdown — What does your life actually cost? Rent, insurance, groceries, kids' activities. This directly impacts support calculations.

5. A timeline of major financial events — Large purchases, inheritance, gifts, business investments. Especially anything from before the marriage.

Having this ready saves you hours of billable time and puts you in a much stronger position from day one.

I built an interactive system that walks you through all of this step by step — check it out if you want to get organized fast.