Gathering Information for a Virginia Divorce (Part A)

Divorce is a challenging and sometimes unexpected event in any woman's life. When you decide to file for a Virginia divorce, gathering information about your spouse, your marriage and your children is an important early step in the process.

It may be difficult to come to terms with the end of your marriage. However, in order to make sure you get the best possible outcome in your Virginia divorce settlement, you need to gather specific, detailed records of your marriage, finances, assets, liabilities, and other information. When you are filing for divorce in Virginia, working with an experienced Virginia divorce attorney can help get a better idea of what information you'll need to gather in advance.

Types of Information to Gather

If you are facing a Virginia divorce, your attorney will need a lot of very specific information and records. It might even be a good idea to begin collecting documents before alerting your husband that you are considering divorce. You can begin collecting information on your own, or consult with a Virginia divorce attorney.

Personal Information

When filing for a Virginia divorce, begin your information gathering with personal information. This includes your:

• marriage certificate;
• birth certificates for any children;
• Social Security cards;
• pre-nuptial agreement and/or post-nuptial agreement; and
• any other documents that may be relevant to your marriage.

It is best to collect the original versions of these documents and keep them in a safe place, and then make copies as needed. In a Virginia divorce case, these documents will be used to establish the relationship, any previous marriages and the existence of children during your divorce proceedings.

Financial Information

It is equally important to gather financial information when filing for divorce in Virginia. Financial records will be used to determine spousal support, child support and other potential financial outcomes of your Virginia divorce. The financial documents your Virginia divorce attorney will need include:

• tax returns for previous years;
• pay stubs for you and/or your husband;
• 401K or retirement account statements;
• bank statements;
• life insurance; and
• other documents detailing assets and liabilities.

Other Information to Gather Before a Virginia Divorce

Do you and your husband own a business together? If so, documents regarding the business ownership, profits, expenses and taxes will also be needed for your Virginia divorce, among other considerations specific to your marriage and financial arrangements.

Continue to Next Page >>

To order your free book-www.freedivorcebook.com
information on seminars-www.monthlydivorceseminars.com
info on collaborative divorce-www.virginiacollaborativelaw.com
information-estate planning for young families-www.generationslawfirm.com
information-family law and estate planning for the LGBT community-www.FamilyEqualityLawCenter.com

Charles R. Hofheimer View lawyer's profile

Charles R. Hofheimer   visit superlawyers.com