Things to Gather Pursuant to Your Divorce

If you’re facing the prospect of a divorce, then you are probably feeling overwhelmed with feelings of despair, anger, fear, guilt, anxiety and just general stress and bitterness. No one wants to face the prospect of ending a marriage, as everyone who does feels like a failure when this circumstance presents itself.

However, as cold and harsh as it may sound, you need to find a way to get past those emotions and to manage your situation as calmly and responsibly as possible. While that’s obviously easier said than done, it’s critical if you want the result of your divorce to be as equitable as possible. Therefore, below we’d like to present you with a few items to remember that you will surely need as you work towards your final divorce decree. The sooner you can get these documents and other items organized and present them to your attorney, the more prepared you’ll be when the time comes to move through the hearing process.

Documents to Gather

There are several documents that you’ll need to gather, and you should keep them all in one place so that you’re not frantically searching for any of them when you need them. One of the most important set of documents you’ll need is any and all records of the tax returns that were filed while you were married. Income is a huge determinant in regards to any spousal or child support, and it’s also centrally relevant in regards to the forthcoming property division.

You will also need to gather any mortgage notes and the current balances if you own a home together, any and all loan documents that relate to your cars or other large-scale items, credit card statements, bank account statements and any information that relates to your investment and/or retirement portfolio.

Other Evidence that Could be Relevant

Aside from any and all financial documentation you can provide, you should also gather any documentation that relates to any tuition paid by one party for the education of the other, any documentation related to your children such as school enrollment, any health records that relate to you and any other information that would help put together a picture of the lifestyle you and your spouse were accustomed to while you were married.

Overall, preparing for a divorce is about as negative an experience as anyone will ever endure. However, proper preparation could save you years of sadness down the road. If you need help getting ready for a divorce, contact the divorce lawyers at Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP immediately to schedule an initial consultation.