In addition to the emotional turmoil you may experience in divorce, any number of other situations may arise that complicate matters or delay your settlement. If you and your soon-to-be former spouse agree that what’s most important is negotiating a parenting plan that keeps your children’s best interests in mind, and that you’re both willing to cooperate and compromise as needed to achieve that goal, you may be able to obtain a swift and agreeable outcome.
If the two of you disagree about crucial issues, such as child custody, finances or visitation arrangements, or you have trouble discussing much of anything without an argument, you may face more serious challenges than Colorado parents who still get along even though they no longer wish to be in a marriage. As with most legal processes, divorce involves a lot of paperwork. If you seek an attorney’s help, there are definitely several documents he or she will want to review.
Bring these papers to your consultation
No two divorces are exactly the same; so, concerning documents, the type most important to one set of spouses may not have much bearing to another. You can ask your attorney which documents you should bring with you; however, the following list includes the most common kinds of paperwork that may be pertinent in divorce:
- You will want to show proof of income, both yours and your spouse’s.
- Hopefully, you have records of your tax information for the past three to five years.
- If you or your spouse own a business, or you are joint owners of the same company, you will also need to show your business tax documents as well.
- If you and your spouse signed a prenuptial agreement before marrying, that document may be one of the most important toward your settlement.
- Stock option information, mortgage paperwork, loan documents or credit card statements are further examples of documentation that may impact the ultimate outcome of your divorce.
Have you already executed an estate plan? If so, your attorney may want to review all paperwork regarding final wills and testaments, advance care directives, powers of attorney or trusts, etc., before heading to court. By relying on experienced guidance, you stand a likelier chance of ensuring your financial security in divorce. It’s also helpful to have someone by your side who will advocate on your behalf to make sure your children’s well-being is the central focus of all proceedings.