Help with Intake Sheet for Consultation at Tokarska Law Center
HOW TO BEST FILL OUT THE CONSULTATION INTAKE SHEET: Note that all information provided is CONFIDENTIAL.
| Section A. Personal Information: |
Do not skip age or marital status. |
|---|---|
| Section B. Real Estate: |
You own real estate property if your name is on the Deed, even if you don’t live there. You may also have an ownership interest in real estate property under community property rights if your spouse has real property in his/her name even if your name is not on the deed. Disclose all real estate property for you and your spouse, even if legally separated.
Go to www.zillow.com to get an estimated present value. Own more than 1 property? List each on a separate sheet of paper with same information. |
| Section C. Vehicles: |
Go NADA Guide to obtain valuations. Select vehicle make, year, and model, enter mileage, and choose your optional equipment, you can then print or email (preferred) the report directly |
| Section D. Debt Information: |
Give an estimate. Details will be verified later with a credit report the attorney will run for you. |
| Section G: Assets: |
Do not leave anything blank, use ZERO or N/A where applicable. If you’re not sure mark with a question mark. It’s important for your attorney to confirm the extent of any and all of your assets to determine if they are exempt under the California law.
Assets are all property, tangible or intangible and may include things you don’t normally think of such as: timeshares, a legal claim against someone or an insurance company (aka lawsuit), business or professional licenses, trademarks, income tax refunds, cash of course, but also security deposits with utility companies. If you’re not sure, ask the attorney. Attorney will later ask you to fill out a personal property worksheet for more details. Right now we’re simply exploring the basics. |
| Section H: Employment Income: |
SKIP THE CALCULATIONS WHEN PROVIDING INCOME DOCUMENTATION. Attorney will calculate this information for you to ensure accuracy. Spouse income is relevant even if spouse not filing due to California being a community property state. |
| Section I: MONTHLY EXPENSES: |
This is an important section. If you haven’t been keeping track of your expenses, now is the time to review your bank statements, bills, and receipts.
Don’t forget annual, semi-annual, and quarterly expenses (divide by # of months: i.e. $500/year car insurance premiums is $60/month. $500 divided by 12 = $60). Self employment business related expenses belong on a Profit & Loss Statement. FEW WORDS ABOUT LIVING EXPENSES: HOA Fees/Property Taxes: List property taxes only if they are NOT included in your mortgage payments. Home Maintenance: Includes cleaning supplies, landscaping Vehicle Upkeep: include regular maintenance: oil changes, replacement of wipers and tires (include these items even if your financial situation has prevented you from properly maintaining your vehicle and services are overdue) parking, tolls. Average out your annual expenses such as: smog check, registration, tags, license fees. Just to give you an idea, on an average vehicle that is >7 years old or has >75,000 miles the typical operating costs are $501/month in San Diego. Younger vehicles: $301/month. If you drive many miles on a regular basis, your costs might be slightly higher than the average. Many people don’t realize how much their vehicles are costing them. Food: Be realistic. Unless you are receiving food stamps or living on rice & beans is it not possible to feed a family of 3 on $300 a month? That’s less than 4 dollars a day per person. At the same time, $1,000/month for a family of two without extraordinary circumstances such as an illness requiring a specific diet is probably excessive. Clothing Purchase: Sex, age, and occupation play a role here. Growing children or having a job which demands professional attire can translate into higher spending. Even if you are frugal, shoes and underclothes still need to be replaced. Clothing Laundry: it’s not just laundrymat or drycleaning. include detergent, bleach, etc, Unreimbursed health care: Do not include expenses reimbursed by your insurance. Include only non-reimbursed expenses or items not covered by insurance: what about contact lenses, glasses, prescriptions, family planning, co-pays, dental cleaning, chiropractic care. Other Expenses: If you have expenses not listed on this schedule, bring this to the attention of the attorney. Charitable Contributions: These must be cash, not used clothing or other items. |