When Should You Meet With a Divorce Lawyer?
Last reviewed by Rita Herrera Irvin, 12/4/25
Overview
Deciding when to meet with a divorce lawyer can have a lasting impact on your financial security, your family, and your peace of mind.
In this short video, McKinley Irvin’s Founder & CEO, Rita Herrera Irvin, shares practical guidance on when to seek legal advice and why early preparation matters.
Title: When Should You Meet With a Divorce Lawyer?
Speaker: Rita Herrera Irvin, Founder & CEO, McKinley Irvin
Key Takeaways
- Don’t wait until papers are filed. Seek legal advice as soon as divorce is mentioned so you can understand your rights and options.
- Preparation is protection. Gather financial and personal records early to avoid being caught off guard.
- Knowledge is power. Meeting with an attorney helps you approach the process from a position of strength and clarity.
- Filing can wait, preparation can’t. Even if you’re not ready to proceed, knowing what to expect helps you make informed decisions.
Transcript
Rita Herrera Irvin, Founder:
I always tell people that you always want to go to an attorney the minute that your spouse mentions the word divorce, for instance, because once that word gets spoken, there's a reason why it got spoken; the reason why it was brought to the table. So, it's important for that person, if you are in that situation where your spouse just mentioned the word, to know what you're up against, know the process.
So what you need to do is—you need to go to an attorney and say, this is the situation. You may not be ready to file, but you certainly need to be ready for when you get served with paperwork for divorce. We always like to tell people, you need to have your affairs in order; you need to have all your ducks lined up in a row so that you're not caught by surprise, because the likelihood is that your spouse is doing the same. You want to come at it from a position of strength.
