Documents needed for divorce

Know which documents to gather and why each one is asked for.

Each document answers a specific question, such as a balance on a date or whose name is on a title. Knowing the question tells you which version and which dates to look for.

What you gather here carries into your Alette Case File.

Alette surfaces and organizes. Professionals advise and finalize.

Why this preparation matters

A document matters because of what it shows.

A folder of files tells you what you have. In Alette, financial documents attach to the record they support, so you can see which records have a document behind them and which still need one.

A professional holding a completed form across a table from a client, a folder of papers between them

You gather

DocumentDeedDocumentPay stubRecordJoint checkingUnknownMortgage payoff amount

Alette organizes

Case File

Records

Accounts, property, income, and parenting arrangements

Documents

Gathered in one place, with financial documents attached to the record each one supports

Unknowns

What you don’t know yet, marked on the record it belongs to

Decisions

What will need to be decided, such as the house or the parenting schedule

Your professionals start here

They start from your record.

A mediator, attorney, financial professional, or divorce coach can begin with an organized Case File instead of rebuilding the basics in a first meeting. More of the time you pay for can go to advice.

Common documents, what each one shows and where to get it.

Which apply depends on your situation, and a professional may ask for others.

Document	What it shows	Where it usually comes from
Tax returns, recent years	Income, including bonus and self-employment	Your files, your tax preparer, or an IRS transcript
Recent pay stubs	Current pay and benefit deductions	Your employer or payroll portal
Bank statements	A balance on a date, whose name is on the account, money in and out	Online banking
Retirement statements	A plan’s value and contributions over time	The plan website or administrator
Deed and mortgage statement	Whose name is on the title and what is owed	County records and your mortgage servicer
Loan and card statements	Balances, payments and whose name is on each debt	The lender’s website
Your credit report	Credit accounts in your name, including ones you may not know about	AnnualCreditReport.com
Insurance policies	Who is covered, beneficiaries and premiums	The insurer or your benefits portal
School and medical records	The children’s schools, providers and routines	The school and the children’s providers

Write down where each missing document comes from, and gathering becomes a short list of requests.

Naming Your Files

Name each document in one consistent format, save it in the correct folder, and check it off. The names directly align with the system in Alette for you to upload later. For a paper copy, take a picture of it with your camera or use a scanner or scanning app.

Format: MM-DD-YYYY Institution Document Last4
Examples: 08-31-2026 Bank Checking Statement 1234; 06-30-2026 Fidelity 401k Statement 5678

Open Questions

If you do not know, write it down and keep going.

Note each open question next to the record it belongs to, then move on. You don’t need an answer to keep gathering.

Common questions

How far back do statements need to go?

What if a document is in my spouse’s name?

Can I use photos of paper documents?

Start with one document you can find today.

The free guide covers all 25 sections. Alette turns what you gather into one Case File. Your professionals advise from there.

Download the Full Guide

Alette

The waitlist is open.

Alette is the preparation platform for divorce. We welcome members in stages. Leave your details and we’ll reach out when your spot is ready.

By joining, you agree to receive emails from Alette and to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Alette

Recorded

Your place is held.

We’ll write to your inbox when your spot opens. Members are welcomed in stages, so it may be a few weeks.