Helpful Tips To Manage The Divorce Process
Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
by Brad Hagen
SEO in Atlanta
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.
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.
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.
Helpful Financial Tips for Couples Considering Divorce
Couples join in marriage to share their lives and finances with one another. Unfortunately, financial discord is a leading cause of divorce in the United States and concerns much more than just lack of income.
Many people considering a divorce find that they cannot afford to be separated. Anyone can have difficulty paying bills, covering the mortgage, keeping their jobs and running a household. In today’s trying times, spouses who want to divorce are realizing that t o survive financially, they may have to stay together.
Helpful Tips
A few suggestions for couples considering a divorce:
- Acquire a current market value of your home from a realtor, and discuss other housing options with your realtor.
- Limit your use of credit; close credit cards and home-equity lines that you don't need. Try not to increase your debt any further.
- Consider putting off a home sale until your divorce is completed.
- Consider counseling to overcome your marital issues; if that's not possible, think about using a mediator to resolve your divorce issues. Many divorce attorneys are also licensed mediators.
- Copy your financial documents and gather all your financial information
- Order a copy of your credit report early– from all three reporting agencies to have this as a base line to know where you stand at the end of your marriage. This way you’d be able to see whether any new unauthorized debt is being added in your name.
- Make sure your tax returns are prepared in a way that you will be comfortable with for years to come. If you are preparing to divorce but have not yet started and it’s anytime around tax season, this is an area of great potential hazard and you should proceed with caution.
- Consult your accountant and have him or her advise you about the possible tax savings that married jointly filing couples enjoy, and also on the potential future liability you could face should the returns be found deficient
Talk to an Alpharetta Divorce Attorney Today
Divorce lawyers understand what you're facing. Contact us to speak with an experienced divorce attorney in your area to discuss your concerns about whether you can divorce, and regarding all of your options.
Alpharetta Divorce Lawyers
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