07 Jan Which Documents are Needed for Divorce in Florida?

Under certain circumstances (such as a contested divorce), when a client signs on with our firm, we make a few requests for documents from them. These documents are commonly referred to as “Mandatory Disclosures“, which the Florida Family Courts may require you to turn over to your spouse.  (We do not usually need to obtain as much documentation from clients who are able to go through with the Uncontested Divorce or Simplified Petitions for Dissolution processes.)  While we will provide you with a full list, depending upon your particular circumstances, of what you will need to provide, you will find a list of documents that may be needed for your Florida divorce below.

Documents Needed for Divorce:

1. A copy of your driver’s license.
2.   All personal (1040) federal and state tax income returns, gift lax returns, and intangible personal property lax returns for the preceding 3 years; IRS forms W-2, 1099, and K- I for the past year because the income tax return for the past year has not been prepared
3. Pay stubs or other evidence of earned income for the past 3 months
4. A statement identifying the source and amount of all income for the 3 months before the service of the financial affidavit, if not reflected on the pay stubs produced.
5. All loan applications and financial statements prepared for any purpose or used for any purpose within the 12 months preceding the service of the financial affidavit
6. All deeds to real estate in which the other party presently owns or owned an interest within the past 3 years. All promissory notes in which the other party presently owns or owned an interest in within the last 12 months. All present leases in which the other party owns an interest.
7. All periodic statements for the last 3 months for all checking accounts and for the last year for all savings accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, etc.
8.  All brokerage account statements for the last 12 months.
9. All documents and tangible evidence relating to claims for special equity or an unequal distribution of marital property. enhancement or appreciation in non-marital property, or non marital status of an asset or debt
10. Any court order directing that either party payor receive spousal support (alimony) or child support.
11. Most recent statement for any pension, profit sharing. deferred compensation, or retirement plan (for example, IRA, 401 (k), 403 (b), SEP KEOGH, etc.) and summary plan description for any such plan in which the other party is a participant or alternate payee.
12. The declarations page, the last periodic statement, and the certificate for any group insurance for all life insurance policies insuring my life or the life of my spouse.
13. All health and dental insurance cards covering either me or my spouse and/or our dependent child (ren)
14. Corporate, partnership. and trust tax returns for the last 3 tax years, in which the other party has an ownership or interest greater than or equal to 30%.
15. All credit card and charge account statements and other records showing my(our) indebtedness as of the date of the filing of this action and for the prior 3 months. All promissory notes on which the other party presently owes or owed within the past year. All lease agreements the other party presently owes.
16. All premarital and marital agreements between the parties to this case.

Again, the divorce process will vary according to your particular situation. Accordingly, the documentation that is necessary for disclosure to (your soon-to-be) ex-spouse and the Florida Family Court will vary, also. If you have any questions about which documents are needed for divorce in Florida, or questions about divorce (in general), feel free to give us a call.