Where to Find Financial Information for Divorce: A Step-by-Step Guide
When you are facing divorce, one of the most powerful tools you can have is a complete, accurate picture of your finances. Without it, you are negotiating in the dark, and that can affect your financial security for years.
The good news is that most of the information you need already exists — in accounts, files, and records you can access. The challenge is knowing where to look, how to gather it discreetly, and which documents to prioritize first.
This guide walks you through the most common sources for financial records, what to collect, and how to keep the process low-visibility while you prepare.
Why a Complete Financial Picture Matters
During divorce negotiations, numbers tell the story. The right documents will:
Confirm what exists and what it is worth
Help uncover assets or debts you did not know about
Support accurate division of property and fair support calculations
Give you leverage by removing uncertainty
Even if you are not the spouse who has managed investments, taxes, or long-term planning, you can still piece together the financial puzzle — and the earlier you start, the stronger your position will be.
The Seven Key Categories of Financial Information
When preparing for divorce, focus on gathering documents in these main categories:
Income and Employment Records
Bank and Investment Accounts
Retirement Plans
Property and Real Estate
Debts and Liabilities
Insurance Policies
Tax Returns
Each category may require looking in multiple places. Here’s how to find them.
1. Income and Employment Records
Where to check:
Pay stubs from your HR or payroll portal
W-2 forms (year-end wage statements)
1099 forms for freelance or contract work
Employer benefits summaries (often in HR portals)
Tip: If you cannot access your spouse’s pay stubs directly, they may be attached to tax return filings or visible in joint bank deposit records.
2. Bank and Investment Accounts
Where to check:
Online banking portals for checking, savings, and CDs
Brokerage accounts (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc.)
Monthly or quarterly paper statements filed in home offices or stored digitally
Email inboxes for monthly account notices
Tip: Joint tax returns often include Form 1099-INT or 1099-DIV, which can reveal accounts you did not know about.
3. Retirement Plans
Where to check:
401(k) or 403(b) statements from employer HR portals
IRA statements from brokerage accounts
Pension benefit statements mailed annually
Social Security statements from SSA.gov
4. Property and Real Estate
Where to check:
County property records (often searchable online)
Mortgage statements from your lender’s portal
Home equity loan or line of credit statements
Deeds and closing documents in personal files
Tip: If you own rental properties, collect lease agreements and rent deposit records — they can impact income calculations.
5. Debts and Liabilities
Where to check:
Credit card statements from all issuers
Car loan or lease documents
Student loan portals
Personal loan or line of credit agreements
Tip: Credit reports from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion can help you spot debts in your name you may not actively use.
6. Insurance Policies
Where to check:
Life insurance policy documents (term or whole life)
Disability insurance statements
Health insurance plan summaries for both spouses and children
Property and casualty insurance declarations for homes, cars, or valuable items
7. Tax Returns
Where to check:
Personal files or shared filing cabinets
Tax software accounts (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.)
Your accountant or tax preparer’s office
IRS transcript requests via IRS.gov
Tip: Tax returns are a goldmine. They can reveal hidden accounts, investment income, and business interests. Aim for the last 3–5 years.
How to Collect Discreetly
For many women in the early stages of divorce planning, privacy is critical. You can:
Download documents during normal account activity hours so it does not stand out
Save files to a secure cloud account only you control
Use a personal email address for sending copies to yourself
Store physical documents off-site in a safe or trusted location
If a document is password-protected or stored in a shared location, avoid altering settings or leaving visible traces that could raise suspicion.
Prioritize and Organize
You do not need everything at once. Start with what is easiest to access, then work toward harder-to-reach records. Keep your files organized by category and date so they are ready for your attorney, financial planner, or divorce coach.
From Information to Financial Clarity
Gathering your financial records is the first step in divorce financial planning. Once you have them, you can see your full picture, explore potential settlement scenarios, and avoid costly surprises.
If you want professional help turning financial information and potential settlement scenarios into a holistic understanding of what your future may look like, NavigateDivo’s Financial Clarity Package can help you prepare to make more confident decisions.
