Sharing financial information makes it easier to work out an agreement
In this part of a divorce, you'll fill out forms to show what you own, owe, earn, and spend. You give these forms and copies of some financial documents to your spouse.
These instructions are the same whether you're getting a divorce or legal separation.
Then you'll use this information to divide your property and debts equally and make decisions about child and spousal support.
Being upfrontand truthfulmakes it easier to work out an agreement.If you hide information or if you are not truthful, you run the risk of losing property and being ordered to paythe other person’slawyer’s fees.
If you started the divorce process (the petitioner)
Youmust share complete and up-to-date information about your finances with your spouse.
If youareresponding to the divorce(therespondent)
You must share your financial informationif you filed aResponse.If you did not file aResponse,but you want the court to approve anagreement (called adefault with agreement) you also must share your financial information.
If you started the divorceprocess and your spouse never filed a response(this is called adefault), you still need to share your financial informationwith them, but you can finish the process without getting theirs.
Learn how to finalize your divorce if your spouse doesn't respond
You must share financial information by a deadline
The first time you give your spouse this information is known as making yourpreliminary disclosures.You must complete preliminary disclosures by a deadline:
60 days after filing a Petition, if you’re the petitioner
60 days after filing a Response, if you're the respondent
You may need to share your information again later in your case
Later in your case,you'll need to either:
- Share information a second time (afinal declaration of disclosure)
- Agree to waive final disclosures (you and your spouse sign an agreement that says you don't need to do another disclosure because you've kept each other up-to-date)
You can waive final disclosures by signing and filing a Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure (form FL-144).
