Available in:

OnDemand Course

Overview of Financial Records for Paralegals: Obtaining and Understanding the Information

Financial statements can be difficult to understand at times, after this overview, you will have a better understanding on how to recognize and read them.

Many offices today make use of paralegals or legal assistants not only in preparing documents but in reviewing them. Many attorneys rely on elementary representations of income such as the income stated on an income tax return for determining the available funds for child support and maintenance. In many cases, this may be sufficient, such as that of a W-2 wage earner. However, in those cases where a client's spouse owns their own business eliciting the true available funds for child support and maintenance can be more complicated. This topic is designed to help you understand various options in securing information, interpreting that information and making use of it to determine the actual funds available for support. A lack of understanding of how to interpret financial documents and tax returns can lose your client a great deal of money and expose the attorney to a grievance process or even a malpractice suit. The information focuses on basic ideas which are available to the practitioner without the assistance of experts.

114 minutes
Certificate of Completion
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Agenda

Purposes of Securing the Financial Records (i.e., What Are Your Goals)

  • Determining the Income/Cash Flow of Your Client and Their Spouse
  • Determining the Historic Family Expenses for Your Client, Their Spouse, and Their Children
  • Determining the Assets of the Marriage, and Any Nonmarital Assets
  • Determining the Value of Assets

Methods of Obtaining Information

  • Subpoena Duces Tecum
  • Records Deposition
  • Depositions
  • Interrogatories
  • Notice/Request/Demand for Production of Documents From a Party

Sources of Information

  • Parties
  • Accountants
  • Banks or Mortgage Brokers
  • Employers
  • Unions
  • Investment Counselors
  • Internet Data Bases
  • Federal and State Government

Basic Types of Documents

  • Tax Returns (Personal Tax Returns and All Supporting Documents)
  • Business, Trust, or Gift Tax Returns ( With All Supporting Documents)
  • Banks/Savings/Money Market Account Records
  • Investment Account Records
  • Credit Card Records
  • Multiple Documents From Business(s) Owed in Whole or Part by Your Client or Their Spouse
  • Trust Documents
  • Insurance Documents

Interpreting the Information: Income vs. Cash Flow

  • Statutory Definitions of Income
  • Noncash Expenses
  • Nonincome Cash Flow
  • Extrapolating/Inferring Information
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Credits

OnDemand Course

This course was last revised on November 18, 2019.

Call 1-866-352-9540 for further credit information.

This program does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

Faculty

David P. Kirsh

David P. Kirsh

Berger Schatz

  • Partner in the firm of Berger Schatz
  • Focuses his practice almost exclusively in the area of domestic relations
  • Conducted seminars on a number of subjects relating to the domestic relations practice, including drafting agreements, ethical considerations, and understanding and applying the UCCJA
  • Actively involved in the Illinois State Lawyers Assistance Program
  • Obtained largest maintenance award in Illinois history from a court following trial (over $50,000 per month)
  • J.D. degree, University of Illinois College of Law; B.A. degree, with honors, Duke University
  • Can be contacted at 312-782-3456 or [email protected]
Purchase Options

Add to Wishlist

More Program Information

Why Lorman?

Over 37 years and 1.4 million customers worth of experience providing continuing education. Our passion is providing you world-class training to help you succeed in business and as a professional.

All of your training, right here at Lorman

All of your training, right here at Lorman.

Pay once and get a full year of unlimited training in any format, any time!

  • OnDemand Courses
  • Live Webinars
  • MP3 Downloads
  • Course Manuals
  • Executive Reports
  • White Papers and Articles

Additional benefits include:

  • State Specific Credit Tracker
  • All-Access Pass Course Concierge

Questions? Call 877-296-2169 to speak with a real person.

Sign Up Today
With This Course

Access to all training products for one year
$699/year

Unlimited Lorman Training

With the All-Access Pass there is no guessing what you will need for your yearly training budget. $699 will cover all of your training needs for an entire year!

Easy Registrations

Once you purchase your All-Access Pass you will never be any further than one-click away from attending any Lorman training course.

Invest in Yourself

You haven't gotten to where you are professionally by luck alone; it's taken a lot of hard work and training. Invest in yourself with the All-Access Pass.

Product ID: 406803
Purchase Options

Available in Multiple Formats

Purchase this course and learn on your schedule!