Those thinking about filing for divorce face many issues. Amidst extreme emotional distress, it can be hard to prepare adequately for what can be a protracted legal fight. Following is a categorized summary of documents for divorce to gather and organize for your Arlington divorce attorney.
Income
- Both spouses’ pay stubs from all employment held during the last 12 months.
- All joint or individual tax refunds for the last three years.
- If either spouse is self-employed or has had an interest in any business during the past three years, gather all relevant income and expense documentation. This includes receipts, bank statements, check ledgers, and profit/loss statements.
- A copy of both spouses’ net worth statements.
- Check ledgers reflecting any expenses incurred during the marriage if either spouse works for cash.
Real property
- Any documents containing the legal description(s) of any jointly or separately owned real estate. These forms are available from the mortgage lender.
- Most recent statements for any outstanding mortgage loans.
- Documents pertaining to initial real estate purchase(s) or refinancing.
- Property tax statements for all jointly or individually owned real estate.
Bank accounts
- Savings account passbooks of all individually or jointly held accounts.
- Statements for the last two years pertaining to all checking or savings accounts and Certificates of Deposit, whether jointly or individually owned.
Life insurance
All existing life insurance contracts on the lives of either spouse or any children, whether privately purchased or employer-sponsored. Include any documents reflecting current cash values or outstanding policy loans.
Debts
- Itemized listing of all joint and individual debts.
- Itemized listing of outstanding medical bills for both spouses and any children.
Pensions
Copies of recent pension fund, 401(k) plan, IRA, retirement fund, or mutual funds.
Vehicles
- Title and registration papers for all individually or jointly owned automobiles, boats, or farm equipment.
- Documents reflecting any outstanding debt secured by any vehicle(s).
Personal data
- Both spouses’ complete phone numbers, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
- Full names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and birth dates of all children of the marriage.
- Date and county of the marriage.
- Relevant information relating to both spouse’s previous marriage(s) and certified copies of any divorce decree(s).
- Copies of any prenuptial agreements or other domestic contracts.
- Information pertaining to any prior legal proceedings between the parties or involving any child(ren) such as restraining orders or legal separation court orders.
Organizing the above documents helps a divorce attorney in Arlington provide the best possible legal representation and may even result in lower legal fees. Having complete documentation facilitates negotiations and helps resolve disputes without court involvement. Even if an Arlington divorce case goes to trial, documentation will be essential to help support the case. Those thinking about filing for a divorce in Arlington should contact the Law Offices of David Kohm immediately at 817-204-0900.
