Before embarking on the process of obtaining a Divorce, it is important to first gather important information (facts about income, resources, investments, property, debt, and children). If you do not have access to this information, this can always be obtained later through the course of “Discovery.” However, if this information can be obtained prior to “Discovery”, it typically provides a head start to both the party initiating the Divorce and his or her Divorce attorney in terms of strategizing and charting a course of action. It is also important to consult with an attorney once you have gathered this information so that you have a good idea of what the issues are in your specific case and what information may be missing. For example, one of the issues may be a business that may be owned in one of the parties names or jointly. In such a case, the lawyer may advise the client to obtain a business valuation from an expert.