Once you’ve made the decision to get a divorce and to go through the mediation process, the next step is to prepare your case. You will do this by gathering as much information as you can about your assets, debts, financial situation and anything else that could affect the outcome of your divorce.
Your mediator will likely ask you at the outset of your case about all of the issues on which you agree and which you still need to work on. The main topics you will address will include property division, alimony, child support, child custody and visitation.
Expect your mediator to request you to gather information related to those above topics. That information could include:
- Bank statements
- Pay stubs
- Asset lists
- Estate planning documents
- Insurance policy documents
- Tax documents
- Children’s school schedules
Your mediator will summarize the information as you assemble it, but if additional research is needed (which may be the case for couples with particularly complex estates or with a lot of assets) you may need to bring in a neutral expert to consult with you and help you through the matter.
Do not be afraid to ask questions of your mediator and be extra thorough in your preparation. It is better to come to the table with too much information than not enough, as latter could make it look like you are attempting to conceal assets or information (which could, in turn, damage your negotiations).
To learn more about the information you will need to gather during the discovery phase of your divorce, contact a trusted Minneapolis, MN divorce lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
