Proactive Steps to Take if You Are Contemplating Divorce
In California, both spouses have fiduciary duties towards one another that require them to act in good faith in their dealings with each other and to disclose all material facts and information regarding community assets and debts. While there are several formal and informal methods of obtaining necessary information from the other party during a divorce, being proactive can cut down on the amount of time and expense needed to evaluate and prepare your case. The Minnesota Divorce and Family Law Blog has a helpful list of documents to gather upon deciding to file for divorce. Specifically, it suggests gathering:
1.Copies of financial statements;
2.Copies of tax returns;
3.Copies of computer hard drives;
4.Copies of insurance policies;
5.Copies of wills and/or trusts;
6.Inventory of safety deposit boxes, with a witness;
7.Copies of deeds and/or titles to real property;
8.Copies of small business ledgers, financial journals, payroll, sales tax returns and expense account records;
9.Copies of appraisals for art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles;
10.Record the contents of each room in your home through video;
11.Copies of retirement account statements; and
12.Copies of your spouse’s pay stubs for the last few months.
My divorce was final at the end of last year, after seearvl years of trying to keep it together. I filed and asked him to leave and was met with little resistannce, so our process was mild compared to many, though traumatic for me. I read to learn where I may have been smarter. I wish I had known about this site three years ago when first faced with the crumbling marriage. However, in the midst of the struggle, I did not have sense or mental energy to look. Thankfully, I seem to have found a trustworthy lawyer, but I’m not happy with the child visitation schedule at all. I feel powerless to change it and unsure of what is actually best for children.