Info to take to the lawyer...

[Wantmypeace]

I'm gathering all the numbers/info for the lawyers I'm going to interview, and I'm having a little trouble with a couple of things:

Home furnishings/personal property...how do I estimate this, and what is a "normal average" for most people. Our house is 1700 sf, and we don't have any antiques or unusual items. Just regular furniture, clothes, etc...

Is there a "list" of what numbers I should take with me? I have the following already:
Retirement (STRS, so exempt) Value
Household furnishings value
Clothing value
Car #1 value
Car #2 value & loan amount
Credit Card balances
Home value & Mortgage balances

What am I forgetting?

[ccsjoe]

For the initial screening interviews, don't take too many numbers as no attorneys are going to go into much detail pre-retainer. I think with what you listed above you have enough information for the screening interviews. Do not worry about personal property right now unless you have expensive jewelry, antiques, book collections etc. Do take income numbers, projected and past, as well as general expenses and taxes.

[LaurieM]

I am really surprised that attorneys aren't telling people what to bring for their consultation appointments. I am cutting and pasting the questionnaire we mail out to clients to bring to their appointment with them into this post. In addition to the complete questionnaire below we ask that they bring proof of income from all sources for the past six months (actual paystubs). If the client is self-employed we want a balance sheet and income statement for the business for the year so far.

Client Questionnaire (Bankruptcy)
Your MONTHLYIncome and Expenses

INCOME Gross MONTHLY
Income
(Before Taxes)
How often are you paid?
_____________ Net MONTHLY Income
After All
Deductions
Your Income
Spouse’s Income
Child Support Received
Total Monthly (We’ll fill this in for you)

EXPENSES
(Per month) Amount
Rent
1st Mortgage Payment (taxes included ___Y ___ N)
(insurance included ___ Y ___N)
2nd Mortgage Payment /Home Equity Line
3rd Mortgage Payment/Home Equity Line
Property Tax if not included with your mortgage payment
Heat/Gas
Water
Electric
Trash Pickup
Home Maintenance
Telephone
Cell Phone
Cable/Satellite
Internet
Car Payments 1)______ 2) _______ 3) ________
Car Insurance
Life Insurance Premiums ____ term life ____ whole life
House or Renter’s Insurance (if not included in mortgage pmt)
Medical Insurance (not deducted from paycheck)
Medical/Dental monthly out-of-pocket expenses
Food/Groceries
Clothing
Pet expense (Pet food, vet bills etc)
Child Care
Child Support Payments (not deducted from your pay)
Alimony Payments (not deducted from your pay)
Student Loans (that you are currently paying)
Dry Cleaning/Laundry
Charitable Donations (including church donations)
Entertainment
Gas/Repairs for vehicles
School supplies/lunches/activities
Personal items (toiletries, diapers, etc)
Total (we’ll fill this in for you)
DMI $_________ (office use)


YOUR ASSETS (WHAT YOU OWN)

Type of Asset Value (your best estimate) What you owe? How long ago did you acquire the asset?
Your home 1st Mortgage _____________
2nd Mortgage
_____________
Home Equity Loan
_____________
Any other property?
Vacation Properties
Rental Properties that you own
Vehicles
1)
2)
3) 1)
2)
3)
Make/Model/Year
Mileage for each vehicle 1)______________________________
2) _____________________________
3) _____________________________
Recreational Vehicles
Stocks, Bonds, Life insurance policies with cash value
WHAT YOU OWE
Type of Debt How much owed? Behind on this debt? Court actions pending? Is there a co-signer on this debt?
Credit Cards
Personal Loans
Medical bills
Unpaid utility bills
Income Tax
Property Tax
Student Loans
Back Child Support/Alimony
Check cashing loans
Book/Music Clubs
Other – Specify




Yes No
Have you received any lump sum payments from any employer within the last year (severance, bonuses, retirement packages)? If so, how much & when?
___________________________________________

Have you received any inheritances within the last year? If so, how much and when?

________________________________________
Have you made ANY purchases on your credit cards within the last three months?

If yes, please indicate when the last credit card purchase was made ____________________
Have you taken any cash advances on your credit cards or taken out any payday type loans within the past six months?

If yes, please indicate when the last cash advance or pay day loan was taken out. _____________________________
Have you made any purchases on your credit cards for large ticket items (furniture, electronics, jewelry, televisions, computers etc) within the past two years?
Have you transferred any property from your name to the name of another person within the last five years?
Have you won anything from lotteries/bingos/gambling within the last year?
Have you sold any stocks/bonds, properties, vehicles within the last year?
Have you made any payments whatsoever to family members for monies owed within the last year?
Other than payments on your mortgage or vehicles, have you made any payments over $600 within the last 90 days to any one creditor?


Family Composition

Who lives in your home? _______ Adults ________ Children
Ages/Sexes of children? ___________________________________________

[ccsjoe]

I am really surprised that attorneys aren't telling people what to bring for their consultation appointments. I am cutting and pasting the questionnaire we mail out to clients to bring to their appointment with them into this post. In addition to the complete questionnaire below we ask that they bring proof of income from all sources for the past six months (actual paystubs). If the client is self-employed we want a balance sheet and income statement for the business for the year so far.

Client Questionnaire (Bankruptcy)
Your MONTHLYIncome and Expenses

INCOME Gross MONTHLY
Income
(Before Taxes)
How often are you paid?
_____________ Net MONTHLY Income
After All
Deductions
Your Income
Spouse’s Income
Child Support Received
Total Monthly (We’ll fill this in for you)

EXPENSES
(Per month) Amount
Rent
1st Mortgage Payment (taxes included ___Y ___ N)
(insurance included ___ Y ___N)
2nd Mortgage Payment /Home Equity Line
3rd Mortgage Payment/Home Equity Line
Property Tax if not included with your mortgage payment
Heat/Gas
Water
Electric
Trash Pickup
Home Maintenance
Telephone
Cell Phone
Cable/Satellite
Internet
Car Payments 1)______ 2) _______ 3) ________
Car Insurance
Life Insurance Premiums ____ term life ____ whole life
House or Renter’s Insurance (if not included in mortgage pmt)
Medical Insurance (not deducted from paycheck)
Medical/Dental monthly out-of-pocket expenses
Food/Groceries
Clothing
Pet expense (Pet food, vet bills etc)
Child Care
Child Support Payments (not deducted from your pay)
Alimony Payments (not deducted from your pay)
Student Loans (that you are currently paying)
Dry Cleaning/Laundry
Charitable Donations (including church donations)
Entertainment
Gas/Repairs for vehicles
School supplies/lunches/activities
Personal items (toiletries, diapers, etc)
Total (we’ll fill this in for you)
DMI $_________ (office use)


YOUR ASSETS (WHAT YOU OWN)

Type of Asset Value (your best estimate) What you owe? How long ago did you acquire the asset?
Your home 1st Mortgage _____________
2nd Mortgage
_____________
Home Equity Loan
_____________
Any other property?
Vacation Properties
Rental Properties that you own
Vehicles
1)
2)
3) 1)
2)
3)
Make/Model/Year
Mileage for each vehicle 1)______________________________
2) _____________________________
3) _____________________________
Recreational Vehicles
Stocks, Bonds, Life insurance policies with cash value
WHAT YOU OWE
Type of Debt How much owed? Behind on this debt? Court actions pending? Is there a co-signer on this debt?
Credit Cards
Personal Loans
Medical bills
Unpaid utility bills
Income Tax
Property Tax
Student Loans
Back Child Support/Alimony
Check cashing loans
Book/Music Clubs
Other – Specify




Yes No
Have you received any lump sum payments from any employer within the last year (severance, bonuses, retirement packages)? If so, how much & when?
___________________________________________

Have you received any inheritances within the last year? If so, how much and when?

________________________________________
Have you made ANY purchases on your credit cards within the last three months?

If yes, please indicate when the last credit card purchase was made ____________________
Have you taken any cash advances on your credit cards or taken out any payday type loans within the past six months?

If yes, please indicate when the last cash advance or pay day loan was taken out. _____________________________
Have you made any purchases on your credit cards for large ticket items (furniture, electronics, jewelry, televisions, computers etc) within the past two years?
Have you transferred any property from your name to the name of another person within the last five years?
Have you won anything from lotteries/bingos/gambling within the last year?
Have you sold any stocks/bonds, properties, vehicles within the last year?
Have you made any payments whatsoever to family members for monies owed within the last year?
Other than payments on your mortgage or vehicles, have you made any payments over $600 within the last 90 days to any one creditor?


Family Composition

Who lives in your home? _______ Adults ________ Children
Ages/Sexes of children? ___________________________________________

Wow, a couple atorneys had me fill out a brief basic info questionnaire, but nothing like this for an initial free consultation. Not saying its bad, just a lot of work/info for a screen. On the plus side, it gives you a better picture.

[sval]

Just saw an attorney yesterday & this form is basically the same as was sent to me prior my appointment. I feel it was a great help to me as well to see what I do spend each month & helped him see where I was financially. It would be a great 'Sticky' to be printed out prior to an appointment.

[LaurieM]

Here's what I tell ppl who call in for an appointment and ask why we need all this information for a consultation appointment. "It's like asking the surgeon to operate without seeing the xrays and tests prior to doing so"... would you want him to operate?