Essential Divorce Documents

If you are going through a divorce, you will need many documents. Divorce involves many important legal determinations, including how to divide your property, how much support should be awarded, and who will receive custody of the children. Documents can help support your position. Before getting a divorce, try to discreetly gather as many of the following documents as possible. You can provide them to your divorce lawyer at your initial consultation. Request your confidential case review with a knowledgeable divorce lawyer from Wilson-Goodman Law Group, PLLC by calling (480) 503-9217. 

Financial Documents 

Arizona is a community property state, so spouses generally share equal ownership of any property (including money) obtained during the marriage, regardless of whose name the asset is titled in. As such, it is important to have documents related to your property available for your lawyer to try to work out a fair divorce settlement. You will need documents related to:

Assets 

Some documents that you may need to gather about your assets include:

• Deeds for any real estate you own
• Titles for any cars, boats, or other vehicles you own
• Bank statements for all financial accounts, including checking, savings, and mutual fund
• Online account statements (such as PayPal or Venmo) 
• Retirement plan statements for your 401(k), IRA, or other retirement account
• Pension earning statements
• Certificates of deposit
• Statements for stocks and bonds
• Trust documents
• Property tax statements 
• Any appraisals completed on your property
• Any document that demonstrates you owned particular property before your marriage
• Marital agreements regarding property
• Documentation of inheritance received
• Documents for any assets belonging to your minor child
• 529 college plan savings statements 

A good starting point is to write down a list of all the property you own and then trying to find documentation related to each asset. 

Income

Your and your spouse’s income information is important to know in determining property division and support matters. Try to gather the following information for both of you:

• Paystubs or direct deposit statements evidencing work income
• Tax returns for the last five years
• Employment contracts
• Business tax returns if either of you own a business
• Employment benefits statements 
• Documents related to stock options or deferred benefits

Debts 

Just as all property obtained during the marriage is subject to division, so is the debt related to these. Therefore, you will need documents related to your debts, including:

• Credit card statements
• Mortgage statement
• Loan applications
• IRS statement if you owe taxes
• Utility statements
• Student loan statements
• 401(k) loan statements
• Unpaid medical bills
• Parking tickets

If you cannot remember all of the debts you may owe, you could pull a credit report.

Budget

You should also take time to complete a pre- and post-divorce budget to give your lawyer a better sense of your current lifestyle and needs. 

• Mortgage or rent 
• Utilities 
• Property taxes
• Car payments
• Car insurance
• Medical insurance
• Home insurance
• Fuel expenses  
• Ongoing medical expenses
• Children’s extracurricular activities
• College tuition payments
• Debt payments 

Medical Records

Your and your spouse’s health may be considered when awarding financial support, so collect documents related to your current health condition. Also, provide copies of your insurance information to your lawyer.

Child Custody Documents 

If child custody is disputed, it will be helpful to have documents related to this matter. Collect documents such as:

• Your child’s medical records
• Your child’s academic records
• Your child’s report cards
• Written reports regarding your child
• Disciplinary records pertaining to your child
• Your child’s mental health records

Contact Us Today

As you can see, a lot goes into getting a divorce. For trusted care and guidance during your divorce, call Wilson-Goodman Law Group, PLLC at (480) 503-9217.