If you are planning to get a divorce, there are some documents you must gather before you begin the process to save yourself some time and ensure the process goes more smoothly. Although splitting up with your spouse is indeed an emotional experience, it is also incredibly complex and involves a vast amount of paperwork. Luckily, you can obtain what you need on your own, which means your attorneys will not have to waste any time getting started on your case.
However, since no two cases are alike, the documents you need might vary from what you will see on this list. That said, certain documents are necessary in most divorce cases, so continue reading to learn more about which ones you should begin gathering.
The Divorce Checklist
Most of the documents you will need to move forward with the divorce process pertain to your finances and assets. Depending on how complex your finances are, how many assets you have, or if you own multiple properties or a business, you might require more documents.
Below are some of the documents you should get started on collecting:
- Vehicle information
- A list of personal property, including antiques, jewelry, and artwork
- Bank account information
- Social security numbers
- Personal data, including prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, insurance policies, and judgments that involved you or your spouse
- Individual income tax returns
- Business income tax returns
- Stock portfolios and stock options
- Credit card statements
- Mortgages
- Wills, living wills, and trusts
- Powers of attorneys
- Pension statements
- Retirement account statements
- Advance health care directives
- Loan documents
- Proof of your current income and your spouse’s current income
- List of property owned by you and your spouse before marriage
- Monthly budget worksheet
Not only will obtaining these documents before you get the ball rolling on your divorce save you some time, but you will also have a much better grasp of your financial situation as you go through the process. If your spouse handled the household’s finances, this will be particularly enlightening and helpful for you.
It is also wise to prepare a budget for yourself as a single individual, so you are financially prepared for the new life ahead of you. Evaluating your current lifestyle will help you figure out what you can eliminate and what is a necessity.
Discuss the Details of Your Divorce with an Experienced Family Law Attorneys
If you are considering the idea of obtaining a divorce, you should first work on collecting some crucial documents. You will also need the skilled legal guidance of an experienced family law attorneys, so make sure you reach out to the team at Empire Law for the assistance you need to carefully navigate this process. Our attorneys have the experience, knowledge, and compassion necessary to help each client we serve field their way through the most complex divorce case.
Get started on the divorce process and reach out to our law office at (347) 343-5467 to set up a free initial case evaluation today!