Documents You Should Gather Now
The following information is required to properly present your domestic case to the court, whether you hire me, another attorney, or decide to represent yourself. Therefore, you should gather the following documents now and, if at all possible, prior to meeting with local counsel. Make copies of the following documents to take with you to the initial meeting with your attorney and keep them in a safe place prior to this meeting:
- Last five (5) federal and state income tax returns and W2 statements filed either jointly or individually by you and your spouse;
- Paycheck statements for you and your spouse for the last three (3) months from all sources of earnings;
- Benefits information relating to employment of you or your spouse including health insurance;
- If either or your spouse work for cash, documentation of receipts for cash payments, check ledgers demonstrating expenses paid during marriage (check registers may not show payment for items such as groceries, which may have been paid for in cash);
- Last three (3) statements for all bank accounts owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Safe deposit rental agreements for your and your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Last three (3) statements for all securities accounts owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Statements for all pensions, IRAs, mutual funds, 401K/profit sharing, and retirement plans for both you and your spouse;
- All household bills for the past year;
- Current mortgage and home equity loan statements, including current balance for any real property owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Last appraisal for any real property owned by your or your spouse either jointly or individually, including art, jewelry, electronics or items specifically listed in any insurance policy;
- Current tax assessment statements for any real property owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Financial statements or statements of net worth prepared by you or your spouse either jointly or individually for the purpose of securing bank loans or for any other purpose;
- Life insurance policies, including those provided through an employer, for you and your spouse, to include face amount and current cash surrender value;
- Title or vehicle registrations cards for all cars, trucks, boats, RVs, snowmobiles, or motorcycles, owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- Receipts for child care;
- Documentation of extraordinary medical costs for you or your children;
- All bills and statement received from any mental health professional that has seen you, your children, or your spouse;
- All current credit card statements;
- Loans made either jointly or individually by you and your spouse;
- Any other document you believe is relevant to alimony, child support, or division of property;
- Any marital property or separation agreements between you and your spouse;
- All pleadings and court papers that you have regarding this or previous cases of any type;
- All documents regarding any stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investments that you or your spouse have either jointly or individually;
- Documentation of any business in which you or your spouse hold any interest either jointly or individually, whether as a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or corporation, including, but not limited to, payments received, charges billed, job bids, invoices for work performed, ledgers of payments received, bank deposit slips, bank statements, independent contract agreements, contracts agreements, federal and state tax returns, check registers, canceled checks, payment receipts, check carbons, computerized income or expense records, financial statements, profit and loss statements, general ledgers; and property tax filings;
- Last five (5) federal and state income tax returns for any business in which you or your spouse hold an interest either jointly or individually;
- Lease agreements for any rental properties in which you or your spouse hold an interest either jointly or individually;
- E-mails about or concerning you, your spouse, or significant others that you believe is relevant to adultery, alimony, child support, or division of property;
- Any other information that will help establish your net worth, your spouse’s net worth, your income, and your spouse’s income;
- Deeds for any real property owned by you or your spouse either jointly or individually;
- If applicable, photographs of you or your children indicating physical abuse by your spouse;
- If applicable, copies of reports from doctors and/or therapists for you or your children if abuse of any kind by your spouse is indicated; and
- Identifying photographs of your spouse and children.
