Paper Trail: Dealing With Divorce Paperwork

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If you are dealing with a divorce, you may also find yourself dealing with a lot of requests for documentation from your divorce attorney. Knowing what is needed may help make for a less stressful time, and the quicker you are able to accommodate those document requests the faster the entire ordeal will be over with. Read on to learn about some commonly used and requested documents to be familiar with and have handy during this time.

Legal Separation Agreement

This is actually an order and a document, and even if it is not a requirement in your state, you should strongly consider the value of this agreement, which spans the time period between your separation and the final decree. It should be noted that many of the issues covered in this agreement can be folded into the final divorce decree. Since this period can encompass several months, it just makes sense to create some provisions to deal with important issues such as:

• Child support: if you have minor children, you will need a plan in place to ensure that the child is provided for financially. The parent who does not have physical custody of the child is the parent who pays any child support.
• Spousal support (alimony): it is not necessary for the divorce to be final to need and receive financial assistance from your spouse. If you were financially dependent on your spouse before the separation, you likely need some help during the transition period of separation (and beyond) as well.
• Debt: It's vital that a date is noted and a "line in the sand" be drawn when it comes to debt accrual during the separation period. Regardless of how you two divide your debts, you might not want to be responsible for the debts your spouse manages to rack up during the separation period.
• Property: If you can make some decisions about the home and other property during this time, it can be legalized with a separation agreement.

Tax Return

You are almost guaranteed to be asked to provide the past two years (or more) of tax returns by your attorney, so have some copies made available. If you are unable to procure those documents, you can request them directly from the IRS.

Miscellaneous Financial Documents

• Mortgage loan and auto loan information
• Auto loan information
• Bank account and retirement/investment account information
• Insurance information (health, life, auto, homeowner's)
• Deeds and titles
• Wills and trusts information
• A budget
• Bankruptcy information

For more information about divorce and the paperwork needed, talk with a lawyer, such as those at Campbell, Dille, Barnett & Smith, P.L.L.C..

4 April 2017