Divorce financial disclosure checklist: documents, assets, debts, and income

Overview

Build a complete, dated financial record before settlement discussions so both spouses and the court can evaluate support and property issues.

What to review

1. Collect recent tax returns, pay records, benefit statements, business records, and proof of other income.
2. List bank, investment, digital-asset, retirement, pension, insurance, and education accounts with values and statements.
3. Document real estate, vehicles, valuable personal property, ownership dates, title, valuation, and separate-property claims.
4. List mortgages, cards, loans, tax balances, judgments, and contingent obligations.
5. Prepare an income-and-expense budget and identify health, childcare, housing, education, and debt payments.
6. Update material changes, keep proof of exchange, protect account data, and never conceal, destroy, or alter records.

What to do next

Follow your court’s definition of required disclosure and deadlines; a private settlement does not necessarily remove disclosure duties. Complex businesses, trusts, tracing, pensions, suspected hidden assets, or major valuation disputes usually justify professional help.

Official sources and further reading

• Share your financial information — California Courts Self-Help Guide
• Divorce forms — California Courts Self-Help Guide
• Publication 504: Divorced or Separated Individuals — Internal Revenue Service