If you have chosen to pursue mediation as the venue for resolving your divorce in New Jersey, preparing yourself can be the most important step toward an efficient and effective mediation process. By compiling the necessary documents and information, you can ensure that your mediator has a comprehensive vision of your personal and financial life, from assets and debts to employment history, work schedule, and living arrangements. This will allow him or her to provide the most complete and relevant list of potential solutions, in essence, the most informed guidance, as the mediation proceeds. Below is a list of the most frequently useful documents and information during the divorce mediation process. Of course, some of the information will be applicable to your situation, while others will be irrelevant. Where appropriate, you may find it useful to refer to this list as you begin to prepare for your divorce mediation.
Helpful Documents in Preparing for Your New Jersey Divorce Mediation
Financial Information
- Recent pay stubs for you and/or your spouse
- State and federal tax returns
- Business interests or ownership
- Employment contracts
- Employment history
- Retirement Information: including pensions, 401K’s, IRA’s, social security statements
- Bank account statements
- Credit card statements
- Investment account information (stocks, bonds, funds)
- Inheritances or trusts
- Loans, debts: including student loans, motor vehicle leases or financing
- Cost of living: including utility bills, childcare expenses (daycare, tuition), food, etc.
Property and Asset Information
- Mortgages and home equity loans
- Residential properties
- Commercial properties
- Investment properties
- Vacation homes
- Rental agreements
- Time-share agreements
- Personal property: including furniture, vehicles, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and other items of financial or sentimental value
Insurance Information
- Medical insurance
- Life insurance
- Auto insurance
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Renter’s insurance
Previous Legal Documents
- Prenuptial agreements
- Postnuptial agreements
- Restraining orders, police reports, or documents related to domestic violence
- Living wills, powers of attorney, or advance healthcare directives
Child and Parenting Information
- Number of children and their respective ages
- Medical information for each child, if applicable
- Educational accommodations for each child, if applicable
- Daily and weekly schedules for each child, including extracurricular activities
- Annual school calendar, including holiday breaks
- Expenses for each child: including cost of daily living, day care, school tuition, extracurricular activities (i.e. athletic teams, dance, music, or language lessons)
- Active family members in the child’s life (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or others who may serve as caregivers)
With the information above, you can provide your mediator with an accurate portrait of your life. This will allow him or her to address your concerns, frame relevant issues, raise potential considerations, and ultimately, to craft innovative strategies for amicable divorce resolution.
Contact our New Jersey Divorce Mediation Team Today
When confronting divorce in any venue, preparation is a critical component of success. Our knowledgeable New Jersey divorce and family law mediators ensure that you feel informed and empowered through every stage of the mediation process. We utilize our extensive experience with divorce and family law mediation and the unique insight provided by each of our talented members to craft customized solutions for you and your spouse. Led by three talented partners, each of whom has over 10 years of experience practicing divorce and family law mediation, our team of mediators includes panelists for New Jersey’s Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel Mediation Programs, approved family law mediators pursuant to New Jersey Court Rule 1:40-12, and many who have served previously in New Jersey’s Family Court System. For additional information and a free mediation consultation, contact our offices in Hackensack, Bergen County at 201-897-6670 or Whippany, Morris County at 973-975-0476 today.
