If you are heading into divorce proceedings, then it’s important to be as prepared as possible. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to obtain agreeable settlements.
Something that you will need to have is all of the relevant paperwork gathered. There are certain documents that the family court will need to see before they can come to rulings or sign off on negotiated settlements.
Here are some of the key documents that you will need to look out.
Documents related to your property
Property division is a key part of divorce proceedings. Ideally, you and your spouse will be able to agree on who gets what. For example, who will get to continue living in the family home. Or, how the proceeds will be split upon sale. If you have an existing arrangement, such as a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, these will need to be looked out and presented to the court.
You may also need to hand over documents that reflect the value of property as well as ownership rights. For example, details of a recent appraisal, mortgage statements and deeds.
Financial documents
The family court will also need to assess the financial circumstances of both you and your spouse. This will help them to rule on property division and things like child support and spousal support. Pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements can help provide the court with a clearer picture of the financial position of each spouse.
Some of the other key documents you may need to provide include:
- Intellectual property documents
- Retirement accounts
- Estate planning documents
- Marriage certificate/license
Seeking as much legal information as possible will also help you to prepare for divorce and the next chapter of your life.
