Free Divorce Prep Checklist
Everything below is free — print this page or work through it on screen. No purchase, no signup.
A note on the old "Premium Kit": this site previously offered a paid state-specific PDF. That product has been discontinued. If you purchased it and never received your download, contact us and we will refund you in full.
1. Documents to gather before anything else
- Marriage certificate (order a copy from the county that issued it if needed)
- Last 2–3 years of tax returns (federal and state)
- Recent pay stubs for both spouses, or profit/loss records if self-employed
- Statements for every bank, retirement, and investment account
- Mortgage/deed or lease, vehicle titles, and loan statements
- Credit card statements and a list of all debts, with whose name each is in
- Insurance policies (health, life, auto) and beneficiary designations
- If you have children: school, medical, and childcare cost records
2. Questions to answer for your state
- Do you meet the residency requirement? (See your state's page for the summary, then verify on your state courts' site.)
- Is your case genuinely uncontested — full agreement on property, debts, support, and custody?
- What is the current filing fee in your county, and do you qualify for a fee waiver?
- Is there a mandatory waiting period, and when does it start?
3. Where to get official forms — free
Every state publishes its divorce forms free through the court system. Never pay a third party just for the forms themselves. Find your state's official self-help center via the National Center for State Courts directory, and see USA.gov's divorce page for federal-level basics.
4. Before you file
- Open your own bank account and update direct deposits if finances are shared
- Change passwords on personal email and financial accounts; set up two-factor authentication
- Photograph or scan shared documents and valuables for your records
- If there is any history of abuse or intimidation, talk to a family-law attorney or legal aid before filing anything — the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233
Not legal advice. This checklist is general education. Requirements vary by state and county and change over time — verify everything with your state courts or a licensed family-law attorney.