Document Checklist

Spokane Lawyer Helping You Stay Prepared

In preparation for your initial consultation, it is important to gather as much factual information as possible. Please be informed that it is common for non-filing spouses to conceal, destroy, or alter information upon learning their wife or husband is seeking a divorce.

Here is a list of documents and information critical for our initial consultation:

• Domestic contracts: These involve prenuptial agreements, community property agreements, or any separation agreements.
• Employer: It is important that you know the name, address, and telephone number of both your employer and your spouse’s employer in addition to the dates of employment and your specific job titles.
• Federal tax returns: It is important that you compile your tax returns from the past two years including W-2s for both you and your spouse.
• Legal proceedings: It is important that you notate any legal proceedings that have occurred between you and your spouse involving any children.
• Pay statements: In order to best understand your and your spouse’s financial situations, it is important that you gather pay statements for both you and your spouse for the past six months.
• Retirement statements: Similar to pay statements, any retirement statements for both you and your spouse help the court and me understand your and your spouse’s financial situations.
• Life insurance policies/statements: To better establish your financial standings, it is important that you assemble any life insurance policies or statements for both you and your spouse to bring to your initial consultation.
• Bank statements: Please bring bank statements belonging to both you and your spouse that document your finances for the past year.
• Credit card statements: To get a better understanding of any debts you owe, please bring your and your spouse’s most recent credit card statements.
• Vehicle loan statements: If you or your spouse have any current vehicle loans, please bring statements for all vehicles owned between the two of you.
• Mortgage statement: If you or your spouse have any properties, please bring the most recent mortgage statement with you. This helps determine equitable property division.
• Restraining orders: If any restraining orders have been issued, please bring copies of them to your initial consultation with me.
• Other: As your attorney, I will be a less effective advocate if I am not aware of all the facts or information related to your case. You must be willing to provide your attorney with all the information that may impact your case, including histories of drug or alcohol abuse, domestic violence, criminal charges or actions, or other forms of abuse.

Please note that any information you provide your attorney is protected by the attorney/client privilege if you do not waive that privilege via your own disclosure.

I am happy to assist with any questions you might have. Feel free to contact me by calling my Spokane firm, Ellen M. Hendrick PLLC, at (509) 402-2248.