Crafting the Perfect Divorce Questionnaire: A Comprehensive Guide

Divorce is a complex legal process that requires careful preparation and thorough information gathering. A well-crafted divorce questionnaire can streamline this process for both attorneys and clients. A comprehensive divorce intake form helps lawyers gather essential details about the marriage, assets, children, and other crucial factors that will shape the divorce proceedings.

By using a standardized set of questions, attorneys can ensure they obtain all necessary information from their clients upfront. This saves time during consultations and allows lawyers to provide more accurate advice tailored to each client’s unique situation.

A thoughtful divorce questionnaire also helps clients organize their thoughts and prepare for the legal journey ahead. It prompts them to consider important aspects of their marriage and divorce that they may not have previously contemplated.

Your Personal Information

Gathering accurate personal details is crucial for divorce proceedings. It establishes your identity and current circumstances.

Full Name and Contact Details

• What is your full legal name?
• Have you ever used any other names? If so, please list them
• What is your current residential address?
• What is your preferred phone number?
• What is your email address?
• What is your date of birth?
• What is your place of birth?

Employment and Education History

Current Living Situation

• Are you currently living with your spouse?
• If not, when did you separate?
• Do you have any children living with you?
• If yes, how many and what are their ages?
• Do you own or rent your current residence?
• Are you financially supporting anyone other than yourself?
• Have you recently relocated due to the separation?

Marriage Details

Gathering accurate information about the marriage is crucial for divorce proceedings. Key details help establish timelines and legal considerations.

Date and Place of Marriage

• When did you get married? (Exact date)
• Where did the marriage take place? (City, state, country)
• Was this a civil or religious ceremony?
• Do you have a copy of your marriage certificate?
• Were there any issues with the legality of your marriage?

Pre-marriage Agreements

• Did you sign a prenuptial agreement?
• If yes, do you have a copy of the prenuptial agreement?
• Were there any verbal agreements made before marriage?
• Did you discuss asset division before getting married?
• Were there any financial disclosures made before marriage?
• Did you consult a lawyer before signing any pre-marriage agreements?

Financial Information

A comprehensive divorce questionnaire should include detailed questions about finances. This helps ensure a fair division of assets and debts.

Income and Assets

• What is your current annual income?
• What is your spouse’s current annual income?
• Do you have any additional sources of income? If so, please list them.
• What is the value of your primary residence?
• Do you own any additional real estate? If yes, provide details.
• List all bank accounts and their current balances.
• Do you have any retirement accounts? Provide account types and balances.
• List any stocks, bonds, or other investments you own.
• Do you own any vehicles? Provide make, model, and estimated value.
• List any valuable personal property (jewelry, art, collectibles).

Debts and Liabilities

• What is the outstanding balance on your mortgage?
• Do you have any credit card debt? List balances for each card.
• Are there any outstanding personal loans? Provide details.
• Do you have any student loan debt? State the remaining balance.
• List any medical debts you currently owe.
• Are there any tax liabilities? Provide details.
• Do you have any business-related debts?
• Are there any outstanding legal fees or judgments against you?

Shared Financial Obligations

• Do you have joint bank accounts? List account types and balances.
• Are there any joint credit cards? Provide balances.
• List any shared investment accounts.
• Do you have a joint mortgage? State the remaining balance.
• Are there any shared business interests? Provide details.
• List any joint loans or lines of credit.
• Do you have shared insurance policies? Specify types and beneficiaries.
• Are there any joint memberships or subscriptions?
• List any shared recurring bills or expenses.

Children

Custody Arrangements

• What type of custody arrangement do you prefer (sole, joint, shared)?
• Are you willing to consider joint legal custody?
• Do you want primary physical custody of the children?
• What specific concerns do you have about the other parent’s ability to care for the children?
• Are there any safety issues that need to be addressed in the custody arrangement?
• Have you and your spouse discussed any custody preferences?

Child Support Details

• What is your current income?
• What is your spouse’s current income?
• Do any children have extraordinary expenses (e.g., private school, medical needs)?
• Are there any existing child support agreements?
• Who currently provides health insurance for the children?
• Do you anticipate any changes in employment that could affect child support
• Are there any additional financial factors that should be considered for child support?

Parenting Time Schedules

• What parenting time schedule would work best for you?
• Are you open to a flexible parenting time arrangement?
• Do you have any work schedule constraints that affect parenting time?
• How do you want to handle holidays and school breaks?
• What are your preferences for weekday vs. weekend parenting time?
• How should transportation for parenting time exchanges be handled?
• Are there any activities or commitments that need to be considered in the schedule?
• Legal Representation and Proceedings

Legal representation and previous legal actions are crucial aspects of divorce proceedings. These factors can significantly impact the course and outcome of a divorce case.

Attorney Information

• Have you hired a divorce attorney?
• What is your attorney’s name and contact information?
• How long have you been working with your current attorney?
• Are you satisfied with your attorney’s services?
• Do you have any concerns about your legal representation?
• Have you previously consulted other attorneys regarding your divorce
• What are your expectations from your legal counsel?

Previous Legal Actions

• Have you filed any legal documents related to your divorce?
• What is the current status of your divorce proceedings?
• Have you attended any court hearings or mediation sessions?
• Are there any temporary orders in place?
• Have you and your spouse attempted reconciliation?
• Are there any pending motions or hearings scheduled?
• Have you been served with any legal documents by your spouse?
• Are there any restraining orders or protective orders in effect?

Expectations and Concerns

Addressing expectations and concerns is crucial when navigating a divorce. These questions help clarify important issues.

Financial Expectations

• What are your main financial concerns during and after the divorce?
• Do you expect to receive or pay spousal support? If so, for how long?
• How do you envision dividing marital assets and debts?
• Are there any specific assets you wish to keep? Why?
• What are your expectations regarding the marital home?
• Do you anticipate any changes in your employment or income?
• Have you considered the tax implications of property division?

Custody and Co-parenting Concerns

• What type of custody arrangement do you prefer?
• How do you envision sharing parenting responsibilities?
• What are your biggest concerns about co-parenting?
• Are there specific holidays or events you want to prioritize with the children?
• How do you plan to handle major decisions regarding the children’s education, health, and religion?
• Do you have concerns about your ex-spouse’s parenting abilities?
• Are there any safety concerns that need to be addressed in the custody arrangement?

Future Communications

• How do you prefer to communicate with your ex-spouse about divorce-related matters?
• What boundaries do you want to establish in your post-divorce relationship?
• Do you anticipate any challenges in maintaining a civil relationship?
• How do you plan to handle disagreements or conflicts that may arise?
• Are you open to using a mediator or co-parenting counselor if needed?
• How will you approach introducing new partners to the children?
• What are your expectations for attendance at future family events or milestones?

Easily collect divorce questionnaire responses with File Request Pro

A good divorce questionnaire is key for both lawyers and clients. It helps gather important information quickly. But managing these forms can be time-consuming.

File Request Pro offers a solution. This software makes handling divorce questionnaires easier. Lawyers can create custom forms that fit their needs. It covers all important parts of a divorce case.

A great feature of File Request Pro is automatic reminders. Lawyers don’t need to chase clients for answers.

The system sends reminders on its own. All collected info is safely stored in cloud services like Google Drive.

File Request Pro has an easy-to-use interface. Clients can fill out forms with fewer mistakes. This means less back-and-forth later on.

Using File Request Pro can make the divorce process smoother. It handles paperwork tasks automatically. This lets lawyers focus more on the legal side of things. It’s a modern way to improve service for clients during a tough time.