how long should i keep divorce paperwork from my attorney

by Prof. Bennie Lind I 8 min read

Most experts say that it is best to always keep legal documents forever. A birth certificate is one such document. And for those who wonder how long to keep divorce papers, it is highly recommended that you keep them on hand forever, as well.Sep 9, 2017

How long do I keep boxes of divorce papers.?

Apr 07, 2017 · Divorce / Separation Lawyer in Covina, CA. 4.9512195121951 stars. 123 reviews. AVVO RATING 10. Contact Attorney. 1 found this helpful | 2 lawyers agree. Posted on Apr 7, 2017. Posted on Apr 7, 2017. If I were in your position, I would definitely keep your filed and entered Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage.

Where can I get free copy of my divorce papers?

Mar 08, 2020 · However, as long as you keep a record of the date of marriage and divorce, the case/cause number and court in which the divorce occurred, you can probably get rid of your records. Most marriage and divorce records are part of a public record. If you need them for something important, the great probability is that you can get them from the ...

How to get free divorce papers?

Jan 28, 2020 · Keeping them longer will create additional stress and clutter preventing you from feeling confident and secure in your legal and financial planning. DISCARD AFTER 7 YEARS There are some documents that you need to retain, but only to a …

Do it yourself divorce documents?

Usually, the other side will request three years worth of financial documents or copies of the financial documents since the date of your divorce. This will save you time and money because you will already have the documents in your possession.

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Tristan Yohan Jagroop

If I were in your position, I would definitely keep your filed and entered Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage. That is your record of your dissolution of marriage.

Tobie Brina Waxman

Are there any custody issues (i.e. minor children involved?) Is there an ongoing spousal support obligation? What you should save and what you do not need to save depends in part on what the issues were that were resolved by your judgment.#N#More

What type of information is required for a divorce?

In the course of the divorce, there will be an exchange of information through mandatory preliminary disclosures and/or the divorce discovery process. Spouses must exchange any information and documents that are relevant to the divorce. The most common kind of information produced in a divorce is financial data, which is relevant to dividing property and setting an amount for financial support. These types of documents include income tax returns (personal and business), canceled checks, bank statements, and credit card statements.

What is the final judgment of divorce?

It’s an official order signed by a judge and is proof that your marriage is legally over. It will also contain the final disposition of your all your divorce-related issues, which may include:

What do you need to know about divorce appraisals?

You see this most typically with real estate, high-end personal property or collectibles (like jewelry or antiques), and businesses. Because these appraisals usually provide the basis for how to divide a portion of the marital property, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of them in case you need to reference them down the road, especially if an asset isn’t scheduled to be distributed until some point after the divorce.

What is a martial settlement agreement?

The details will be contained in the judgment itself or will be included in a martial settlement agreement (also known as a divorce settlement agreement or property settlement agreement). If you have a settlement agreement, it should be provided to the court so that it can be attached and incorporated into the judgment.

Tricia Dwyer

Since you've held on to the document this long you likely want to continue to do so. Whether or not you may have need of it would seem to be unlikely, but depends on the content of the divorce decree.

Andrekita Silva

You current husband is correct that you probably don't need your divorce pleadings anymore. That would be especially true if there was no property to be divided, too. There will be times when you might be asked for your marital history.

How long do you have to keep tax returns?

They typically have to do with tax records. Historically, it is best to keep both federal and state tax returns in a safe place for up to seven years.

What documents are needed to close a business?

They include: estate plans, last will and testaments, life insurance policies, birth certificate, social security cards, marriage documents. In closing, it is important to make sure your documents are in order so that you can begin to take control of your financial, legal and personal life.

Why is it important to create a legacy plan?

Often times people get discouraged in their attempt to create a legacy plan because they are overwhelmed by all of their documents and unsure which ones need to be kept or thrown out.

Can a divorce be finalized even if the divorce process was never completed?

Amanda's Question: My ex and I separated 8 years ago. We started the divorce process, but recently I found out it was never finalized. Does the divorce eventually become final after a certain amount of time?

How can I be sure the divorce is finalized?

Amanda's Question: My friend just went through a year-long divorce. We were waiting for the judge to sign papers and get them to her attorney so we could take care of all the important things like her pension and accounts (that was going to be the middle of the month). However she fell ill and passed last week.

Do all terms of the divorce need to be met before the decree is final?

Stacy's Question: Is a divorce decree not considered fully executed unless all terms have been met? For example, division of assets has not yet been completed as stipulated in my MSA. I have filed a motion for clarification and enforcement. Will this need to be completed for my ex-spouse to proceed with his planned wedding?

Am I married or divorced if I didn't file the divorce decree?

Madge's Question: If I filed for a divorce and have all the other papers, but did not file the divorce decree, am I still married or divorced?

The mediator says the divorce is finished but the court says otherwise

Rebecca's Question: My husband and I were ordered to do parenting classes by Jan 4th. He didn't complete his. We also went through a mediator to separate property. I did get papers from the mediator about the divorce being finished as of October, but then also got papers from the court stating it won't be final until the classes are completed.

How do I find out what documents I need to finalize my divorce?

Sonia's Question: I recently had my online self-represented divorce trial in RI and everything was going smoothly until in the end when the Judge said that the divorce wouldn't be finalized until me and my ex-husband file two documents. The only answer I get when I asked which documents where needed was that I would find it at the domestic website.

Who writes the final divorce decree?

Penny's Question: My final divorce decree stated that all child support would cease in October of last year. My attorney said "I've never seen anything like this before. I haven't read this divorce decree and didn't write it". Who DOES write them, if not the attorneys involved?

What to do after divorce?

After a divorce, you may be tempted to get rid of everything that reminds you of your ex-spouse. That includes the original marriage certificate, settlement agreement, and various other documents. Seeing that paperwork might encourage you to reflect on the events that caused your marriage to fail. Depending on the circumstances, this can release ...

Why is it important to keep a settlement agreement?

Because your settlement agreement includes details involving child custody, child and spousal support, and the division of the marital property, it is important to keep it. You’ll need to present it to the court if you request a change to any aspect of the original settlement.

What is a marriage certificate?

The marriage certificate is the document that affirms you and your spouse were married. It should have been filed with the county clerk following your wedding. It is important to keep copies of both. That way, you have proof of when you actually married your ex-wife or ex-husband.

What happens if you miss a payment?

If payments are missed, you’ll be able to easily reconstruct a paper trail that shows the months missed and the amount of money due for those months. This makes it easier to resolve the matter without asking the courts to intervene. Ex-spouses oftentimes forget to send an occasional payment.

Can you change your child support payment?

If you are paying or receiving alimony and child support, you may have reason in the future to ask the court to modify the original payment terms. A change may be warranted to reflect a cost of living increase, a change in employment status, a disability, or many other factors.

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The Final Judgment of Divorce

Keep Appraisals

  • During the course of the divorce, you may have had appraisals done for one or more of your assets. You see this most typically with real estate, high-end personal property or collectibles (like jewelry or antiques), and businesses. Because these appraisals usually provide the basis for how to divide a portion of the marital property, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of them in case you ne…
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Financial Documents

  • In the course of the divorce, there will be an exchange of information through mandatory preliminary disclosures and/or the divorce discovery process. Spouses must exchange any information and documents that are relevant to the divorce. The most common kind of information produced in a divorce is financial data, which is relevant to dividing property and set…
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Speaking of Support Payments. . . .

  • It’s common today for support payments—especially child support—to be garnished from wages and disbursed through the county probation department. But in cases where payments are made directly from one ex-spouse to the other, it would be wise for bothto keep track of those payments. Make a copy of the check or money order, if you can. At the very least, make a writte…
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Miscellaneous Items

  • If you had to provide your marriage certificate to the court during the divorce, make sure you get it back. For marriages that lasted ten years or more, a spouse will normally be able to collect on the other spouse’s Social Security. The Social Security Administration will need a copy of the marriage certificate to verify the duration of the marria...
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