There are many demands for litigants to gather information for their divorce. The discovery process is difficult. From tax returns, deeds, bank records, pay subs, photos, credit card statements to medical records, authorizations, car titles, and contracts; it can be overwhelming. I have clients routinely cringe at having to wade through all of it. Don't panic.
I am reminded of the old joke, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer, "One bite at a time." The idea is that even large tasks can be broken down into smaller tasks. The smaller tasks add up and, before you know it, you have completed the large task. In most cases, you have some time to get everything together. Perhaps, you could set aside one afternoon to collect your tax returns or meet with your accountant to get copies. The next weekend, you could sit down with your monthly bills and estimate your monthly expenses. In this way, you can break the demands down into more manageable tasks.
You also should not feel like you have to do everything on your own. Let other people help you. Ask a friend who fancies herself as an organizational diva to bring her file folders over and help you get organized. The more organized you can get your information before you turn it over to your attorney, the less time your attorney has to spend organizing it and the less you legal fees will be. I cannot tell you how much I cringe when people show up with garbage bags and shoe boxes full of documents that we have to whip into shape.
Finally, do not forget that your lawyer and paralegals are there to help you. A
skilled family law attorney and staff can offer many helpful suggestions for completing necessary forms and getting organized. At a minimum, they can help prioritize the information you will need to provide immediately and what can be provided later. This can be a daunting and frustrating task. If you have more questions, please contact the
Alford Law Office.
Labels: divorce, divorce lawyer, ex husband, ex wife, family law, judge, kentucky, litigation, stress
