Before You File
Document Gathering Checklist
Every financial document you should collect before filing for divorce — organized by priority so you know where to start.
Priority 1 — Get These First
☐Last 3 years of tax returns
Both joint and individual returns — these establish income history for support calculations
☐Last 6 months of pay stubs (both spouses)
Used to verify current income for alimony and child support worksheets
☐Last 6 months of bank statements (all accounts)
Checking, savings, money market — every account in both names or either name
☐Most recent mortgage statement
Shows current balance, monthly payment, and loan details for the marital home
☐Vehicle titles and loan statements
For every vehicle — title shows ownership, loan statement shows payoff amount
☐Retirement account statements (401k, IRA, pension)
Most recent statement for all retirement accounts — these are often the largest marital assets
Priority 2 — Financial Accounts
☐Credit card statements (last 3 months, all cards)
Every card in either spouse's name — shows balances that become marital debt
☐Investment/brokerage account statements
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs — separate from retirement accounts
☐Life insurance policy documents (with cash value)
Whole life and universal life policies with cash value are marital assets
☐Business financial statements (if applicable)
P&L, balance sheet, and tax returns for any business owned by either spouse
☐Student loan statements
Current balances and servicer details — debt allocation depends on when loans were taken
Priority 3 — Property & Assets
☐Property deeds and title documents
For the marital home and any other real property — shows how title is held
☐Vehicle titles
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs, ATVs — any titled vehicle
☐Appraisals or recent assessments for real property
Recent appraisals, county tax assessments, or Zillow estimates to establish value
☐Photos/receipts for high-value personal property
Jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques — anything worth over $500 should be documented
Priority 4 — Legal Documents
☐Marriage certificate
Required for filing — get a certified copy from the county clerk where you married
☐Prenuptial/postnuptial agreement (if any)
These agreements can dramatically change how assets and debts are divided
☐Any existing court orders (child support, custody, etc.)
Prior orders from any court — these may affect or be incorporated into your divorce
☐Children's birth certificates
Required for any custody or child support proceedings
☐Social Security cards for all family members
Needed for court filings and benefits planning post-divorce
Tip
Don't have access to some of these? You can request bank statements directly from the bank. Tax returns can be requested from the IRS using Form 4506. If your spouse controls most financial accounts, your attorney or mediator can issue a formal discovery request.
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