What Documents Do I Need For My Divorce

If you are considering divorce, you may be asking what documents do I need for my divorce?

Divorce can be stressful, especially if you are unsure of where to start and what divorce documents to gather. It is a good idea to prepare the necessary documents needed in a divorce, which will become vital once the divorce process begins. These documents will be asked of you by not only your family divorce attorney but by the court as well.

Organize Your Documents

It is also important that you provide a complete and organized file with all documents to your attorney. This will assist you and the attorney by avoiding confusion and will make the negotiation process of the divorce run more smoothly, especially when having to reference numbers or assets.

Divorce Documents

Here is a list of important documents to obtain when in a divorce:
• Household or Personal Property: any inventory document that lists your personal household furnishings, collections, and antiques
• Vehicle Information: registration forms, purchase contracts, recent monthly statements
• Income and Bank Information: recent statement of accounts, recent paycheck stubs, tax returns for the last 3 years, W-2 forms, most recent 1099, any other records reflecting estimated payments made during the prior year
• Real Estate: current deeds and trust deeds, recent mortgage and equity line statements, and property tax bills
• Life Insurance and Retirement plans: all existing life insurance and retirement plans along with the premiums paid and latest benefit statements.
• Investments: statements showing stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
• Debt: current statements on credit cards, loans, and contracts
• Business Asset Information: most recent K-1 forms, last 5 years corporate tax returns

Once you have all of these documents organized, it would be helpful to make copies of each document filed. Keeping a paper trail will be helpful before the divorce is finalized, during the divorce, and even after.

If you have specific questions or need help with preparing important documents for your divorce, contact Thorsteinson Law, your trusted and experienced divorce and family law attorney.