Divorce Planner Checklist: Stay Organized at Every Stage of the Process

Why This Checklist Matters

Divorce is overwhelming. Between legal decisions, financial paperwork, and parenting shifts, it's easy to miss something crucial. This step-by-step divorce planner checklist gives you clarity at every phase — and with the AI Family Law/Divorce Advisor, you'll get personalized guidance based on your situation. Download it, share it, and breathe easier knowing you're prepared.

Pre-Divorce Preparation

Before anything is filed, get your ducks in a row. Use this planning a divorce checklist to reduce stress and avoid surprises.

• Inventory all financial accounts
  List every bank, credit, investment, and retirement account, joint and individual.

• Gather key financial documents.
  Tax returns (past 3 years), pay stubs, mortgage statements, credit reports, and loan documents.

• Start a budget for your post-divorce life.
  Estimate future income, living costs, and potential child/spousal support needs.

• Secure copies of marriage-related legal documents
  Prenuptials, postnuptials, wills, trusts, and insurance policies.

• Identify all property and assets.
  Real estate, vehicles, valuables, digital assets, and business interests.

• Assess your credit score and build individual credit
  Necessary for future financial independence.

• Decide on your preferred legal route.
  Mediation, collaborative divorce, traditional attorney, or use of the AI Divorce Advisor.

During Divorce: Your Planner in Action

Once proceedings begin, stay focused with these key action items from your divorce planner checklist.

• File or respond to divorce petition
  Make sure deadlines are met and paperwork is accurate.

• Outline custody and parenting priorities
  Think through schedules, holidays, communication, and decision-making rights.
  Related: How to Build a Parenting Plan for High Conflict Situations

• Draft a proposed parenting plan.
  This helps during mediation or court proceedings.

• Split assets and debts clearly
  Decide what's joint versus separate and how to divide them fairly.

• Update estate documents
  Change beneficiaries, rewrite your will, and adjust powers of attorney.

• Create a temporary support and custody arrangement
  For a smoother day-to-day life during the process.

• Use the AI Family Law/Divorce Advisor to track decisions.
  Log your preferences, get document prompts, and prep for next steps.

Post-Divorce Follow-Ups

Once the divorce is finalized, don’t drop the ball. This divorce planning checklist includes post-judgment to-dos that are often forgotten.

• Implement the divorce decree.
  Transfer assets, follow custody plans, initiate support payments.

• Notify employers, banks, and schools.
  Update records with your new legal status.

• Retitle property and close joint accounts.
  Avoid future liability or confusion.

• Review health insurance and benefits.
  Get your plan or revise existing ones.

• Consider therapy or coaching.
  Transitioning emotionally is just as crucial as legally.

• Revisit your long-term financial goals.
  Retirement, savings, and education plans might need new direction.

  
  

Or better yet, let the AI Family Law/Divorce Advisor walk you through each step — it adapts the checklist to your situation and keeps you organized, calm, and in control.