1. Individual income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)
2. Business income tax returns for past three to five years (federal, state, and local)
3. Proof of your current income
4. Proof or spouse’s current income
5. Prenuptial agreement, if already drafted
6. Divorce decrees from previous marriages
7. Bank statements
8. Certificates of deposit
9. statements
10. Retirement account statements
11. Trusts
12. Stock portfolios
14. Stock options
15. Mortgages
16. Property tax statements
17. Credit card statements
19. Loan documents
20. Utility bills
21. Other bills (e.g., school tuition, unreimbursed medical bills, etc.)
22. Monthly budget worksheet
23. Completed financial statements
24. Employment contracts
25. Benefits statements
26. Life insurance policies
27. Health insurance policies
28. Homeowner’s insurance policies
29. Automobile insurance policies
30. Personal property appraisals
31. Real property appraisals
32. List of personal property, including home furnishings, jewelry, artwork, computers, home office equipment, clothing and furs, etc.
33. List of property owned by each spouse prior to marriage
34. List of contents of safety deposit boxes
35. Wills
36. Living Wills
37. Powers of Attorney
38. Durable Powers of Attorney
39. Advance Health Care Directives
40. Your checkbook.
Your lawyer may not ask for all these items, but there is a good chance each of them will be needed at some course in your divorce. Gathering them now will help you and your lawyer.
Sean Y. Palmer has worked as a Divorce and Family Law Attorney in the Houston Metro Area for the last 18 years.
