Divorce Mediation Checklist
Written by Michelle N. Ogborne

Divorce Mediation Checklist

A requirement for divorce mediation is full and complete release of all information from each spouse for it to be successful. In complicated marital estates with a lot of debts and assets, this information can occasionally be extensive.

A lot of mediation clients say that the preliminary document-gathering stage is the least pleasant part of the process. They also say that after they collected and provided all the documentation for their attorney-mediator, the sessions themselves ran a lot more seamless than they ever could have dreamed of.

As a result, putting in the effort, time and preparation beforehand in gathering all of the necessary information. Doing this will pay huge returns later for each of you when later examining your estate with your mediator and together making those critically important decisions for your corresponding futures.

A comprehensive divorce mediator will typically ask you to present the following information and documents ahead of your mediation sessions:

Divorce Mediation Checklist

Here is a checklist of documentation, and over a dozen key matters to be talked about with your spouse to assist you in resolving your divorce or separation. Download the printable Divorce Mediation Checklist PDF

Assets

  • Biographical details for each spouse (contact info, names, addresses, the marriage date, annual gross income & employment for both of you).
  • Present balance statements for each bond and stock and investment statements.
  • Present balance statements for each bank account (savings, checking, money markets, CD’s).
  • Statements of unpaid loans, or verbal agreements to repay a loan whereupon one or both spouses are listed as creditor(s).
  • Present balance statements for each child’s accounts like CD’s, other custodial college savings plans or 529 plans.
  • Model, make, and year of any vehicles owned and a statement of the confidential party value for them as they are listed on Kelly Blue Book.
  • Details of any unsettled civil lawsuit claims whereupon either or both spouses are listed as plaintiff(s).
  • Present statements of any retirement accounts owned by each spouse like 401(K)s, company pension plans, 457’s Thrift Savings Plans, 403(b)s, TIAA-CREF, Roth and Traditional IRA’s.  Some plans might need to be assessed by an experienced actuary for their current day market value.
  • Statements of any other employment benefits like stock options, incentives, cash balances or golden parachute plan.
  • Personal Property – estimated value of the contents of any homes owned, any jewelry, all art, antiques and other objects of significant value. Some items might need to be specially appraised for their value if spouses can’t agree on their value.
  • Present market value appraisals for any real estate owned, like the primary residence, investment properties, vacation homes, any timeshares, or available land, pending spouses comply that the property if going up for sale.
  • The appraisal of any businesses owned for their current estimated market value if designated by the spouses.

Income

  • Photocopies of income statements/pay stubs of both spouses for the past 6 months of all 1099 or W-2 employment.

Liabilities

  • Present balance statements for any motor vehicle loans.
  • Present balance statements for home equity loans, any mortgages, or lines of credit held on all properties owned.
  • Statements for any other privately-held loans, either verbal or with a written note, whereupon one or each spouse is the debtor(s).
  • Present balance statements for any student loans.
  • Details on any pending civil lawsuits whereupon one or both spouses is/are a named defendant(s).
  • Present a balance statement for any credit card accounts.

Insurance

  • Information page for any life insurance policies held by one or both spouses, and a statement of the cash relinquishment value of any universal or whole life insurance plans.
  • Information page for any disability policies held by one or both spouses.

 Taxes

  • Photocopies of the corporate tax returns for the past 3 years if one or both spouses are business owners
  • Photocopies of the federal and state tax returns for the past 3 years and all related 1099 or W-2 statements.

Other Associated Marital Documents

  • Photocopy of the marriage certificate.
  • Photocopies of any wills carried out during the marriage.
  • Photocopies of any pre-marital, and/or marital contracts in effect, like any post or pre-nuptial agreements.
  • Photocopies of all trust documents.

If one of you is feeling uncertain about the completeness of the information that the other has presented, you will address these concerns during your sessions. The attorney-mediator will deal with it in a way that is unprejudiced, agreeable, and that will acknowledge each person’s perspective.

When collaborating, you both will have gathered together all the information in your estate in just a couple of weeks while feeling as confident as you can that the information you submitted to your mediator is equally fully complete and accurate.

Collecting documents is important, of course, but you’ll also want to assess each issue.

See Also:

Speak with Our Divorce Lawyers & Mediators in Phoenix, Arizona Today

Regardless of the choice you make, it’s important you make the best choice for you when hiring a divorce mediator or divorce attorney. Remember: The decisions you make now can affect your future. Ultimately, choosing the best lawyer will depend on which lawyer feels best for you and your situation. Let us show you how to end your marriage today without ending your family.

Ogborne Law can help with divorce mediation in Phoenix, Arizona, and surrounding areas. Our law office is located at 5020 E Shea Blvd Suite 240, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 inside the Paradise Valley Plaza.