1
Secure Critical Documents
The first priority is securing copies of important documents before they become inaccessible. Your spouse may not be willing to share these later.
Financial documents to copy:
- Tax returns (last 3-5 years)
- W-2s and 1099s
- Bank statements (all accounts)
- Investment and brokerage statements
- Retirement account statements (401(k), IRA, pension)
- Mortgage statements and property deeds
- Car titles and loan statements
- Credit card statements
- Business financial records (if applicable)
Personal documents to secure:
- Birth certificates (yours and children's)
- Social Security cards
- Passports
- Marriage certificate
- Insurance policies (health, life, auto, home)
- Wills and estate planning documents
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
Storage: Keep copies in a safe place your spouse cannot access—a trusted family member's home, a safe deposit box in your name only, or a secure cloud storage account.
Never hide or destroy original documents—that's illegal and will severely hurt your case in court.
Checklist
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