Before you jump into a divorce discussion with your spouse, it would be beneficial to understand how to get prepared for the process ahead. One action item to do is to start collecting all the documents you will need. You do not want to wait too long to collect these documents as this could add additional stress. Additionally, if your spouse takes these documents, you will need to obtain copies of them from your spouse’s divorce lawyer, which could prove time-consuming. Today, we go over a divorce checklist to help you ensure you have all the right documentation in place.
What Documents Do You Need to Collect When Preparing for a Divorce?
If you are filing for divorce in Florida, your paperwork checklist should include the following:
- Marriage license
- Personal records (including birth certificates for every member in your family)
- Social Security cards (for every member in your family)
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
- Financial statements and documents
- Tax returns (for the past 3 years)
- Employment contract(s)
- Pay stubs
- Leases for property you rent
- Bank statements, loan documents, and credit card statements
- Retirement account statements (including 401(k)s and IRAs)
- Life, health, automobile, and homeowners insurance policies
- Divorce records (if you or your spouse was previously divorced)
- Copies of titles for any property, automobiles, and/or boats you own
- Documentation that proves your monthly household budget
- Documents detailing any property you own
- List of valuables
- Business records (will need to show the company’s annual revenue, expenses, debts, profit and loss statements, and more)
- Business insurance policies
Checklist for Filing for Divorce
As Florida is a no-fault divorce state, you and your spouse do not need to declare a specific reason as to why you would like to get divorced. However, if one spouse is at fault for the dissolution of marriage, this could an alimony determination. For example, if your spouse committed adultery, you would want to collect the following information to prove this:
- Relevant proof that your spouse was at fault, including emails, text messages, letters, phone conversation, and photographs
- Bank and credit card statements that show that your spouse spent marital funds on his/her paramour
For assistance with your divorce, consult with an experienced divorce attorney from our firm by filling out a contact form online or calling (727)-862-4411.
