Start with the documents that explain cash flow
Use recent statements rather than estimates from memory. Record the statement date, account owner and current balance without making assumptions about how an asset or debt will ultimately be classified.
- Recent pay statements and other reliable income records.
- Recent checking and savings statements.
- Current credit-card, loan and line-of-credit statements.
- Mortgage or rent information and major household bills.
- Current support, child-care, medical and recurring child-related expenses.
Gather recent tax records
Start with recent filed federal, state and local returns, plus W-2s, 1099s and supporting schedules available to you. Business ownership, rental property, unusual income or prior-year amendments may require additional records.
Tax documents are useful source material, but they do not answer every ownership, filing or future-tax question. Bring those questions to the appropriate attorney or tax professional.
Create a property and obligation folder
Do not transfer, conceal, destroy or retitle property because a document makes you anxious. Preserve the information and seek advice before making a move that may be difficult to reverse.
- Deeds, mortgage statements, leases and refinancing documents.
- Vehicle titles, loan statements and insurance records.
- Retirement, pension, investment and health-savings account statements.
- Life, health, auto, homeowners or renters insurance policies.
- Major contracts, judgments, support orders and existing written agreements.
Organize parenting information separately
Create a practical parenting folder for the current schedule, school contacts, activity calendars, providers, medications, insurance cards and significant child-related expenses. Keep adult legal strategy and accusations out of the material children may see.
A parenting folder should help you meet responsibilities and communicate facts. It should not turn ordinary parenting imperfections into an evidence-collection project.
Preserve the governing documents
Put every real deadline on one calendar and note its source. If you do not understand a requirement, contact your attorney or the issuing professional rather than relying on an internet checklist.
- Petitions, temporary orders and final orders.
- Parenting plans and written schedule changes.
- Notices containing a hearing, filing or response date.
- Formal requests received from attorneys or the court.
- Written professional instructions you are expected to follow.
Use a simple filing system
A useful structure is: legal and deadlines; income and taxes; banking and debt; property and insurance; children; and questions for professionals. Use clear file names that begin with the date, such as 2026-09-Statement-BankName.pdf.
Keep a private index with the document name, date, source and unresolved question. Back up files somewhere appropriate for your circumstances, and consider device or account safety if access may be monitored.
What not to do
Good organization improves the questions you can ask. It does not replace legal, tax or financial advice based on your state, order and accounts.
- Do not access an account, device or record you are not authorized to use.
- Do not delete, alter or manufacture records.
- Do not hide assets or move disputed money without qualified advice.
- Do not send sensitive files to friends merely to create a backup.
- Do not assume every document belongs in every email or court filing.