California Practice Guide

California Practice Guide: Family Law
Judge William P. Hogoboom (Ret.), Justice Donald B. King (Ret.), Contributing Editors: Judge Kenneth A. Black, Michael Asimow, Bruce E. Cooperman

Chapter 1. The First Client Interview
Forms

FORM 1:C CLIENT INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

CLIENT INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE

I. PERSONAL FACTS
A. Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: Home __( )____________________ Work __( )___________________________
Date of Birth: ________________________________________________________________
Driver's License Number: _______________________________________________________
Social Security Number: _______________________________________________________

B. Spouse's Name: ______________________________________________________________
Address (and AKA, if any): _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: Home__( )____________________ Work __( )____________________________
Date of Birth: ________________________________________________________________
Driver's License Number: _______________________________________________________
Social Security Number: _______________________________________________________

C. Have you been a resident of California for the last six months and a resident of Los Angeles county for the last three months? _______________________________________________
If not, please state your place of residence for the last six months: ___________________
D. Have any of your children under age 18 lived outside the State of california during the last five (5) years? _______________________________________________________________

E. Have your children lived with any person other than you and/or your spouse?
_________ ____________________________________________
(Yes or No) (Name of person with whom children lived and dates)

F. Are there any other pending legal proceedings concerning your children?
If yes, please complete:
Location of Court ____________________ Case No. ________________________________

G. Child(ren)'s Names(s), Birthdate(s) and Place(s) of Birth:
1. __________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________
4. __________________________________________________________________________
5. __________________________________________________________________________

H. Date of Marriage/Place of Marriage: ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

I. Date of Separation: ___________________________________________________________
II. PROPERTY
Please provide the information requested below to the best of your ability. Copies of documents evidencing ownership (deeds, escrow statements, passbooks, pinkslips, agreements, etc.) will be helpful. Please do not be limited by the space below in supplying us with the information concerning your assets. Use separate paper where necessary.

A. Family Residence
1. Address ______________________
2. Form of Title (separate property, community property, joint tenancy, tenancy in common): ______________________
3. Date of Purchase or Acquisition: ______________________
4. Purchase Price: ______________________
5. Amount Borrowed at Time of Purchase: ______________________
6. Loan Balance as of Date of Separation: ______________________
7. Present Loan Balance: ______________________
8. Source of Funds for Purchase or Acquisition: ______________________
9. Source of Funds for Mortgage Payments: ______________________
10. Approximate Present Fair Market Value (attach appraisals, if available): ___________
[Attach copies of deed(s), if available. Also, if more than one residence involved, please complete items 1 through 10 on separate paper for the other residence(s).]

B. Other Real Property and Commercial Property
1. Address ______________________
2. Form of Title (separate property, community property, joint tenancy, tenancy in common): ______________________
3. Date of Purchase or Acquisition: ______________________
4. Purchase Price: ______________________
5. Amount Borrowed at Time of Purchase: ______________________
6. Loan Balance as of Date of Separation: ______________________
7. Present Loan Balance: ______________________
8. Source of Funds for Purchase or Acquisition: ______________________
9. Source of Funds for Mortgage Payments: ______________________
10. Approximate Present Fair Market Value (attach appraisals, if available): ___________
[Attach copies of deed(s), if available and any agreements pertaining to this property. Also, if more than one piece of property involved, for each such property, please complete items 1 through 10 on separate paper.]

C. Household Furniture, Furnishings and Fixtures:
1. Possession: ______________________
2. Items of Special Value: ______________________ ______________________
3. Insured Items: ______________________ ______________________
4. Items Acquired by Gift, Inheritance or Owned Before Marriage: ________________ __
[Attach appraisals and/or inventory, if in existence]

D. Automobiles: Please supply year, make, model, license number, form of title, date of purchase, source of funds for downpayment and monthly payments, financing information (creditor, balance, etc.).
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________
[Attach copies of pink slips and purchase invoices, if available]

E. Life Insurance Policies: Please indicate name of company, type of policy, policy number, owner, beneficiary, face amount, and cash value.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________
[Attach copy(ies) of policy(ies) and documents evidencing loans against policies, if any]

F. Bank Accounts and Certificates of Deposit: Please supply bank, branch, name and number of account, type of account, approximate balance and source of funds.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________
[Attach copy(ies) of passbook(s) and most recent bank statements, if available]

G. Safe Deposit Boxes: Indicate bank, box number, persons who have access, description of contents.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________

H. Business Interests: Indicate name, type of entity, nature of business, date started, other owners, partners or shareholders, percentage of interests, amount and source of funds invested.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________

I. Stocks and Bonds: Indicate description, number of shares, market value, location of certificates, source of funds and date acquired.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________

J. Pension, Retirement, Profit Sharing Plans: Indicate name of employer, name of participant, value of interest, date started.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________

K. Assets of Children: Indicate description of item(s), owner, value, and person in possession or control.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________

L. Other Assets: Indicate description of item(s), source of funds and date acquired, person in possession and value.
1. ______________________ ______________________
2. ______________________ ______________________
3. ______________________ ______________________

M. Separate Property: Separate property, as distinguished from community property, is generally described as the property you owned prior to your marriage or that was acquired by you during your marriage by gift, inheritance or with the income from your separate property.
Please indicate below which items described above you believe to be your separate property and your reasons for such belief. Attach continuation sheets if necessary.
_______________________________________________ ________________ __ __ __ __

III. OBLIGATIONS
Indicate all presently outstanding debts and obligations including date incurred, purpose, date due and terms of repayment. Include educational loans, which spouse obtained education, and amounts repaid during marriage.
1. _____________________________________________ __________________________
2. _____________________________________________ __________________________
3. _____________________________________________ __________________________
4. _____________________________________________ __________________________
5. _____________________________________________ __________________________

IV. INCOME

A. 1. Your Employer: ________________________
2. Address: ______________________________
3. Phone: _______________________________
4. Occupation/Position: ____________________
5. Education (Years): _____________________
6. IF NOT EMPLOYED:
a. When last employed? __________________
b. What were your gross monthly earnings? __
c. Reason for employment termination: _____
B. 1. Spouse's Employer: ___________________________
2. Address: ____________________________________
3. Phone: _____________________________________
4. Occupation: _________________________________
5. Education (Years): ___________________________
6. Estimate of Spouse's Gross Monthly Income: ______

C. Your Withholding Information:
1. Number of withholding allowances claimed on W-4 __
2. Marital status indicated _______________________
3. Number of exemptions on last year's federal
income tax return ____________________________
D. Gross Income: You Spouse
Base salary/wages, including commissions and bonuses during the last 12 months $______ $______
Overtime paid during the last 12 months $______ $______
All other money received during last 12 months except welfare, AFDC, spousal support from this marriage or any child support $______ $______
Include pensions, social security, disability, unemployment, military basic allowance for quarters (BAQ), spousal support from a different marriage, divedends, interest or royalty, trust incomes, and annuities. Include income from a business and rental properties. Prepare and attach a schedule showing gross receipts less cash expenses for each business or rental property. SPECIFY SOURCES.

E. Deductions From Gross Income: You Spouse
1. State income taxes $______ $______
2. Federal income taxes $______ $______
3. Social Security $______ $______
4. State Disability Insurance $______ $______
5. Health insurance $______ $______
6. Medical and other insurance $______ $______
7. Union and other dues $______ $______
8. Retirement and Pension fund $______ $______
9. Savings Plan $______ $______
10. Court ordered child or spousal support actually being paid for relationship other than that involved in this proceeding $______ $______
11. Other deductions (specify)
a. ____________ $______ $______
b. ____________ $______ $______
c. ____________ $______ $______
F. Present monthly income (if different from 12 month average) Please explain reason for difference $______ $______
V. LIQUID ASSETS

A. Liquid Assets Under Your Control
1. Cash $__________
2. Checking Accounts $__________
3. Stocks $__________
4. Bonds $__________
5. Life Insurance (cash value) $__________
6. Other $__________

B. Liquid Assets Under Spouse's Control
1. Cash $__________
2. Checking Accounts $__________
3. Stocks $__________
4. Bonds $__________
5. Life Insurance (cash value) $__________
6. Other $__________

VI. MONTHLY EXPENSES
Please list your monthly expenses as accurately as possible. A review of your check register, receipts and paid bills will help you to accumulate this list. Note that this is not a budget, but the actual amounts that you have been spending in recent months (perhaps prior to separation). Please indicate the time period over which you have averaged the expenses. If you have been unable to spend money on certain items, e.g., clothes or entertainment in recent months, please indicate an estimate of the amounts spent during your marriage when funds were more readily available to make such expenditures.
If your spouse is meeting certain of the below expenses, please indicate the amount, following with “SP” (“spouse pays”). If your spouse is meeting such expense but you do not know the amount, indicate “UNK-SP” (“unknown-spouse pays”). Where possible, attempt to segregate the expenses between you and your child(ren) with a slash (your share first, then the child(ren)'s).

A. List all persons living in your home whose expenses are included below and their income:
Name Age Relationship Gross Monthly Income
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________

List all other persons living in your home and their income:
Name Age Relationship Gross Monthly Income
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
B. Residence Payments You/Child(ren)
1. Rent/mortgage/deeds of trust ___________
2. Real property taxes and insurance ___________
3. Maintenance:
a. Repairs ___________
b. Gardener ___________
c. Housekeeping ___________
d. Pool Service ___________
e. Other ___________

C. Food at Home and Household Supplies ___________

D. Food Eating Out ___________

E. Utilities
1. Gas ___________
2. Electricity ___________
3. Water ___________
4. Garbage ___________
5. Cable T.V. ___________

F. Telephone ___________

G. Laundry and Cleaning ___________

H. Clothing
1. Client ___________
2. Child(ren) ___________
3. Shoes ___________
4. Shoe Repair ___________
5. Alterations ___________
6. Other ___________

I. Medical and Dental (Excluding portion covered by insurance)
1. Doctor ___________
2. Dentist/Orthodontist ___________
3. Optometrist ___________
4. Psychiatrist/Psychologist ___________
5. Drugs ___________
6. Other ___________

J. Insurance
1. Life ___________
2. Medical/Hospitalization ___________
3. Homeowner ___________
4. Disability ___________
5. Personal Property ___________
6. Other ___________

K. Child Care
1. Nursery School ___________
2. Babysitters ___________
3. Day Care/After School Care ___________
4. Nanny/Live-In Caretaker ___________
5. Summer Camp ___________
6. Clubs ___________

L. Education
1. Lessons ___________
2. Tutors ___________
3. Tuition ___________
4. Books ___________
5. Other ___________

M. Entertainment and Vacations
1. Entertainment ___________
2. Vacations (Prorate monthly) ___________

N. Transportation and Auto Expense
1. Gas/Oil ___________
2. Repairs/Maintenance ___________
3. License ___________
4. Auto Club ___________
5. Car Wash ___________
6. Auto Insurance ___________
7. Parking ___________
8. Public Transportation ___________

O. Installment Payments ___________
Creditor's Name Purpose Monthly Payment Balance as of Date of Separation Present Balance
1. _________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________________
8. _________________________________________________________________________
9. _________________________________________________________________________
P. Incidentals
1. Cigarettes __
2. Cosmetics __
3. Hair Care __
4. Nail Care __
5. Social and business dues __
6. Subscriptions __
7. Pets __
8. Charitable/political contributions __
9. Gifts __
10. Furniture, appliance, etc. repair or replacement __
11. Jewelry/artwork __
12. Other __

Q. Support
1. Present marriage--child support __
2. Prior marriage--child support __
3. Present marriage--spousal support __
4. Prior marriage--spousal support __
5. Child(ren)'s allowance __
6. Adult child support (specify present or prior marriage) __
7. Parental support __

(2008)

CAFAMILY FORM 1:C