Information to Collect for Your Divorce
The following is an invaluable list to get a picture and accurate evaluation of your case.
- Personal Information
- Your name, address, telephone number
- Spouse’s name, address, telephone number
- Each spouse’s date of birth and Social Security number
- Names and birth dates of children
- Date and place of marriage and length of time in present state
- Copy of prenuptial agreement, if any
- Information about parties’ prior marriages, children, etc.
- Date of separation and grounds for divorce
- Employment Information
- Current occupation and name and address of employer (both parties)
- Income of each party (including current pay stubs, if available)
- Education, degrees, and training of each party
- Extent of employee benefits for each party
- Details of retirement plans for each party
- List of joint and separate assets with current values
- House
- Other real estate
- Stocks, bonds, and securities
- Bank accounts
- Individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and
- Life insurance of each party
- Collections, artwork, and antiques
- Automobiles or boats (if owned)
- Liabilities and debts of each party with current amounts
- Mortgages
- Credit Cards
- Car/Boat loans
- Personal loans
- Other loans
- Details regarding “separate” personal assets of each party, including trust funds and inheritances
- Financial records, including:
- Bank statements (last 3 years)
- Tax returns (last 5 years; call 800-829-1040 and ask for a “tax return transcript” if you don’t have these)
- Loan applications, if any were completed in the last 5 years
- Investment statements (last 3 years)
- If you or your spouse owns and interest in a family business, try to gather the following records:
- Description of business, website, and/or marketing materials
- List of shareholders and percentage of ownership
- Bank statements of business (last 3 years)
- Tax returns of business (last 5 years)
- Applications for loans (last 5 years)
- Income statement and balance sheets (last 5 years)
- Buy-sell agreements, if any
Obviously, you won’t have all of the above information and documentation at your fingertips. Provide whatever you can. The more you compile now, the less work will need to be done by your lawyer and/or your spouse and their lawyer.
Do not put off consulting with an attorney because you are missing information. If you can not obtain something, it can be ascertained during the divorce discovery process.
