Preparing for your divorce mediation

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 your begin to prepare for your divorce mediation.

Helpful Documents During 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.

Disclaimer: This website and information presented are for the purposes of legal marketing and general education. No part of this site should be construed as legal advice. Please consult with an attorney regarding your specific situation. © 2019 Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, L.L.C.