A note to the wise: take notes – the divorce process

When you come to see a lawyer, he (or she) will ask a lot of questions as part of the divorce process… and write it all down. That’s not to intimidate you or make you feel as though you’re being cross-examined! It’s simply so that as the case progresses, he can refer back to those notes, he has a record of what has been discussed, and he has recorded the information that he needs to advise you properly and ensure that nothing is missed. Your solicitor might be dealing with you over a long period of time before your case is resolved, so it’s absolutely crucial that proper notes are made.

But similarly, you might want to take notes too. When you are going through a divorce – or any other major life event – it can be very stressful and emotional. You’re not at your best. You arrive at the solicitor’s office for your appointment, and realise you have forgotten some of the points you wanted to raise, or some of the issues that have been bothering or puzzling you. But if you have made a list as things occur to you, you can be sure that you don’t miss anything throughout the divorce process.

You can also make notes during your meetings with your solicitor. You’re probably going to feel bombarded with huge amounts of information, but you’re unlikely to retain much of it in such an emotional situation. If it’s written down then when you go home and try to relate that information to someone else or just wonder later what it was he told you, you can return to your notes to find out. You can also make a note of things that you need to do following on from that meeting, and of anything you need to bring with you to the next meeting, so that you don’t forget, and the meetings then become more productive.

So don’t just watch your lawyer writing everything down, make your own notes; maybe even ask him if it’s possible to have a copy of his notes too. That way, you will have some information to jog your memory later because you can’t possibly absorb and remember with great accuracy what information you were given – after all, it has taken him years to learn. And you will be getting better value for your money because you will make better use of your time when you meet your solicitor – don’t worry, its all part of the process.