The clients who move through divorce fastest and cheapest have one thing in common: they showed up organized. This checklist — built from the documents Florida courts actually require and the questions we ask in every consultation — tells you exactly what to gather and do before and after filing. Print it, work through it, and bring it to your consultation with The Law Office of John Vernon Moore, P.A.
Financial Documents to Gather
Florida’s mandatory disclosure rule (12.285) will require most of these within 45 days of the case starting, so collecting them early converts a scramble into a head start:
- Federal tax returns — last 3 years, with W-2s and 1099s
- Pay stubs — last 3 months (LES statements for military members)
- Bank statements — all accounts, last 12 months
- Retirement statements — 401(k), IRA, pension, TSP, most recent and date-of-marriage if available
- Credit card and loan statements — last 12 months, all debts in either name
- Mortgage statements and the deed to any real estate
- Vehicle titles and loan payoffs
- Life, health, and disability insurance policies
- Business records if either spouse owns a business — returns, P&Ls, operating agreements
- Documentation of non-marital property: what you owned before marriage, inheritances, gifts
Family and Household Information
- Marriage certificate and any prenuptial or postnuptial agreement
- Children’s birth certificates, school and activity schedules, medical needs
- Childcare costs and health insurance premium breakdowns (the child-only portion drives the support calculation)
- A realistic monthly budget — what the household actually spends
- An inventory of significant property — photos of furnishings, jewelry, tools, collections
Practical Steps Before Filing
- Confirm you meet the six-month residency requirement — and that your Florida driver license reflects it
- Open individual bank and email accounts; update passwords on personal accounts and devices
- Pull your credit report — it surfaces forgotten debts and accounts in your name
- Set aside reasonable funds for living expenses and counsel (do not drain or hide accounts — courts see both, and standing orders forbid it)
- Start a factual journal of parenting time and significant events — dates and facts, not commentary
- Stay off social media about the marriage; assume every post and text becomes an exhibit
- If safety is a concern, build a safety plan with counsel before the petition is served
Decisions to Think Through
Your attorney will translate these into strategy, but the thinking is yours: What does a workable week look like for the children — honestly assessed against Florida’s equal time-sharing presumption? Is keeping the house affordable on one income, or is it sentiment talking? Which assets matter most to you, and what would you trade for them? Do you want to pursue alimony, or expect to defend against it? Answers sketched in advance make your petition sharper and your first hearing stronger.
After the Divorce: The Forgotten Checklist
The case isn’t done when the judgment is signed. Within 60 days after: record the deed transfers; get QDROs entered for retirement division; meet every refinance deadline in the agreement; retitle vehicles; update beneficiaries on life insurance and retirement accounts; update your will, trust, and powers of attorney (our estate planning team handles this in-house); notify schools of the parenting plan; and calendar every ongoing deadline the judgment creates. Most post-divorce problems we untangle for new clients trace to this list being skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my spouse controls all the documents?
Gather what you can and don’t panic — mandatory disclosure and discovery will compel the rest, and courts sanction concealment. Even a list of institutions and approximate balances gives your attorney a map.
Should I close our joint accounts before filing?
Get advice first. Unilateral moves can violate standing orders once the case begins and set a combative tone. There are right ways to protect yourself; a consultation identifies them for your facts.
How much of this applies to an uncontested divorce?
Nearly all of it — an uncontested case still requires full financial disclosure unless properly waived, and good preparation is what keeps amicable cases amicable.
When should I actually talk to a lawyer?
Before you file, before you move out, and before you sign anything — in that order. A single early consultation prevents the three most expensive categories of divorce mistakes.
Bring Us the Checklist — We’ll Do the Rest
Our team’s 89+ years of combined experience turns an organized client into a fast, well-positioned case. Call (321) 529-7777 or contact us online for a free 30-minute consultation.