The most important document in a divorce case...

Before the court will enter any Temporary Orders or before a pre-trial conference or divorce hearing may be assigned, you and your spouse will each be required to complete a financial statement on a form distributed by the Probate Court. This form was designed to provide the court with information about the income, needs, assets and liabilities of each party since, from the court's point of view; a divorce is primarily related to financial issues. Although your spouse's conduct may be a factor in your divorce, the court's primary focus is on financial and child-related issues.

After completing the financial statement, each party must sign the statement under the pains and penalties of perjury. Therefore, it is extremely important that this form be completed thoroughly and accurately. You may be cross-examined on this document in court.

In order to complete your financial statement, it will be necessary for you to review your own records including cancelled checks or checkbook registers, income tax returns, household and other bills, and so on. We will give you a blue financial worksheet, which you can complete at home after reviewing your records. Once you have completed this, you will meet with your attorney who will consolidate this information onto the court's financial statement form.

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