How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with a Divorce Barrister

Meeting a barrister for the first time can feel daunting, particularly when the subject is the financial consequences of a separation. Knowing how to prepare in advance can make a significant difference, both to the quality of advice you receive and to how useful you find the session itself.

Gather the key financial documents

The most practical thing you can do before a first meeting is to collect as much financial information as possible. The aim is to give the barrister a clear and accurate picture of your financial situation from the outset.

Useful documents to bring include recent bank statements for all accounts, your three most recent payslips, your most recent pension statement, your most recent P60, details of any property and its current mortgage balance, and information about any savings accounts, ISAs, or investments. If you are self-employed, details of your business accounts and recent tax returns will also be relevant.

You can find more detail on what documentation is typically required through our guide to completing Form E.

Know what you want to achieve

Think in advance about what matters most to you. For some people, the family home is the priority. For others, protecting their pension or maintaining a certain standard of living for the children is the central concern. Having a sense of your priorities before the meeting helps the barrister understand what a good outcome looks like for you.

This does not mean you need to arrive with a detailed list of demands. It simply helps the conversation focus on what genuinely matters. A barrister will help you understand whether your priorities are realistic given the overall financial picture, and what might need to be considered differently.

Be ready to discuss your spouse's financial position too

You will be asked not just about your own finances but also about what you know or believe about your spouse's financial situation. If you have access to information about their income, assets, pension, or business interests, bring whatever you have. Even incomplete information is useful as a starting point.

If you suspect that significant assets are being concealed or that your spouse's financial disclosure has been inaccurate, note down the specific concerns you have so you can raise them clearly. A barrister can advise on what can be done to investigate this further.

Make a note of your questions in advance

It is easy to forget important questions once you are in the meeting. Writing them down beforehand means you leave with answers to the things that matter most. Common questions include how long the financial process is likely to take, what the court would be likely to consider as a fair outcome, what options are available to reach an agreement without a final hearing, and what the approximate costs of different approaches might be.

There are no questions that are too basic. A good barrister will expect to explain the process clearly and without unnecessary jargon.

Set realistic expectations for the first meeting

The first meeting is the beginning of the process, not the end of it. You may not leave with all the answers. What you should leave with is a clearer understanding of your position, an honest assessment of the range of outcomes available to you, and a sense of the next steps.

If the financial picture is complex, the barrister may identify further information that needs to be gathered before a full assessment can be given. That is normal. The important thing is that you are getting accurate advice based on your actual circumstances rather than assumptions.

Consider whether direct access is the right route for your situation

Many people are not aware that they can instruct a barrister directly, without going through a solicitor first. For a first advice meeting on divorce finances, this can be a cost-effective and efficient approach. You access specialist expertise directly, without an additional layer of cost or process.

Our guide to the differences between a direct access barrister and a solicitor explains the options available.

To find out how a direct access barrister can help you move forward, contact us here.