Managing the Divorce Process by Organizing Your Documents and Paperwork

March 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Determining which documents you need to obtain for your divorce case can be a very time-consuming and daunting task. Use this list as a starting point and discuss your situation with an experienced divorce attorney. http://www.helawdivorce.com

It’s a good idea to be prepared and the documents below will help you reduce the stress associated with divorce and help you manage the process.

1. Bank Records
Monthly bank statements are important and can lead you to other documents that you also may need to obtain such as: cancelled checks and deposit slips. Try to get the most recent statement for all accounts that are held in your name, your spouse’s name, or jointly. If possible, get copies of all statements going back to the date of marriage. In some cases these records can be helpful and even necessary to analyze the case.

2. Income Documentation
Your spouse’s income is relevant to a number of issues in a divorce case. Try to get your spouse’s last paycheck statement and your most recent tax return. Preferably, you would have access to all tax returns filed and their supporting documents and schedules.

3. Credit Card Statements
Again the most recent statements are a necessity, but a lot of important evidence can be garnered from the historical statements. For example, they might show evidence of gifts purchased for significant others or other suspicious purchases.

4. Retirement and Other Investment Records
Often the biggest asset a couple owns is a 401k or pension. All statements dating back to the time of marriage are important to have but especially the most recent statement. Also, the last statement before the marriage can be significant to show the pre-marriage balance.

5. Mortgage Statements and Other Debts
Gather your most recent statements showing the current payoff balance for any debts.

6. Real estate documents
The Deed of Trust and Warranty Deed for any property you currently own are the most important of Real Estate Documents to attain. If you have the entire file for each property purchase or refinance during the marriage it is helpful. Documentation for real estate owned by either spouse prior to marriage can be significant.

7. Emails and Correspondence
Correspondence can be helpful or damaging evidence, depending on your standpoint in the Divorce. If the correspondence is between spouses or between a spouse and a third-party, the communication is potentially applicable especially if your spouse makes a damaging admission about an issue in the case or communication with a significant other.

http://www.helawdivorce.com

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The divorce and family law attorneys at Hait and Eichelzer work closely with you to get a firm understanding of the facts and objectives of your circumstance. We will help you to understand your rights and responsibilities and define realistic goals.