Divorce Agreement Checklist

Divorce procedures and the paperwork that goes along with these procedures is something everyone would want to avoid. To start with, this isn't going to be really easy without a divorce lawyer, so try to hire one as soon as possible. During the formation of all the necessary agreements for a divorce such as divorce settlement agreement there are a few issues you need to think over and about. To make it easier for you, we have provided you with an extensive divorce agreement checklist.

It is always advisable to take some divorce advice while going through this agreement. Each divorce is different and there are different problems you need to deal with. A few issues are listed down for you in this checklist, that will help you while forming the divorce agreement. You can also print this checklist to make things simpler specially if you are planning a divorce without a lawyer.

Another thing you need to do before going through this checklist is to go through a divorce agreement sample which you will find very helpful. This will help you in forming the divorce agreement with much more clarity as there are numerous issues one has to deal within a divorce. A divorce agreement sample or a divorce agreement template makes these issues easier to understand and deal with. Here is the checklist that you can refer to, to see if you have included everything you need to regarding your assets and liabilities.

Divorce Agreement Checklist

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

   Name and Addresses of Both Parties
   Date of Marriage
   Place of Marriage
   Names of Children with D.O.B
   Acknowledgment of Irretrievable Separation
   Date of Separation and Location of Last Joint Residence
   Purpose or Intent behind Agreement
   Consideration
   Merger/Non-merger

2. CHILDREN

   Custody
       Physical Custody: Joint or Individual?
       Legal Custody: Joint or Individual?
       Procedure for Making Important Decisions
       Parental Access to Information: Physical, Emotional, Social and Academic
       Authority to Allow Emergency Medical Treatment

   Financial Support
       Amount
       Payment Dates/Frequency of Payments
       Payment Method
       Duration of Payments
       Dept. of Revenue?
       Future Changes
       Visitation Period Support

    Visitation Issues
       Schedule for Visits
       Visitation Travel Expenses
       Vacations
       Removal by Physical Custodian: Temporary/Permanent
       Non-custodial Parent Transfer
       Interference in Other Activities of Child
       Prior Requirement of Notice?

    Medical and Dental Insurance
       Policy Maintenance?
       Insurer's Name
       Policy Number
       Coverage Period?
       Claim forms Availability?
       Cooperation in Claim Preparation
       Policy Substitution

    Coverage Issues
       Orthodontic
       Psychiatric Expenses
       In-patient Facility Expenses
       Obligation for Utilization of Facilities
       Services of Counseling?
       Expenses of Non-prescription Drugs
       Optometrist Expenses
       Laboratory Expenses
       Approval: Extraordinary and Emergency Expenses

    Uninsured Medical and Dental Expenses
       Who Will Pay?
       Deductibles in Policy
       Submission of Bills Agreement
       Dispute Resolution Procedure
       Elective Treatments Agreements
       Emergency Procedure Agreement
       Exchanging of Health Information Agreement

    Dependency Exemptions For Tax Purposes

    Higher Education and the Obtaining of Financial Aid
       Education in Private School?
       Nature of Education
       Extent of Education
       Agreement for Payment of Educational Costs
       Accounting for Educational Costs Agreement
       Exchange of Information Agreement
       Resolving of Disputes Procedure
       Agreement for Provisions of College Costs
       Definition of College Expenses
       In Event of Parent Death?
       Educational Trust Fund?
       Usage of Children's Assets?
       Upbringing Religion?

    Determination of Emancipation Events

3. MEDICAL AND DENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE COSTS

    Is Coverage Available After the Divorce?
       Policy Maintenance
       Insurer's Name
       Policy Number
       Coverage Duration
       Forms for Claims
       Preparation of Forms Co-operation
       Policy Substitution
       Issues of Coverage
       Obligation to Inform in case of Termination
       Authority to Pay Extra Costs of Premium

    Uninsured Medical and Dental Expenses
       Who is Responsible and How, for these Expenses?
       Submission of Bills Agreement

4. LIFE INSURANCE

    Policies
       Policy Ownership
       Policy and its Assignment
       Right to Encumber
       Beneficiaries
       Face Values and Authority to Reduce the Value
       Premium Payment
       Compensation for Failure in Maintenance of Policies
       Substitution of Policies Right
       In Event of Death, Right to Establish Trust Fund?
       Insured Person's Name
       Policy Possession
       Insurance Existence Evidence

5. ALIMONY

Payment Structure and Terms
       Support for How Long?
       Date of Start of Payments
       Frequency of Payments
       Total Amount
       Termination of Payments and Conditions
           Issues of Remarriage
           Disability of One Party
           Increase in Cost of Living
           Increase in Percentage of Living
           Retirement Issues
           Increase in Payee's Income
           Residence Change
           Changes in Materials
           Any Property Sale
           Physical Custody of Child Over for Payee
           Party's Death
           Late Payment Penalties
           Tax Payment Allocations
           Periodic Support Alternatives and Options
               Payments on Assets and Liabilities
               A Lump sum Payment
               Real Estate Conveyance
               Net Support at Minimum
               Net Payment at Maximum
               Remarriage Determination
               Bankruptcy Obligation Discharge
               Support Payments Security

6. PERSONAL PROPERTY

    Allocation and Division Of:
       All Cash and Saving Accounts
       Securities, Bonds, Mutual Funds and Stocks Etc.
       Money Market Fund Certificates
       Furniture and Other House Furnishings
       Children's Furnishings
       Tools and Equipment
       Art Works
       Antiques and Heirlooms
       Burial Plots
       Retirement Benefits and Funds
           I.R.A.'s
           Pensions
           S.E.P. Accounts
           Profit Sharing and the Bonus rights
           Options of Stocks
       Pets
       Deferred Compensation Rights
       Civil claims Against 3rd Persons
       Memberships
       Automobiles
       Corporate Partnerships
       Interests in Sole Proprietorship
       Life Insurance (cash surrender values)
       Money Owed to Some 3rd Party

7. REAL PROPERTY

    The Agreement to 'Hold':
       Possession and Other Authorities of Real Estate
       Duration of Possession and Authorities
       Immediate Vacation Obligation
       Conveyance Restriction
       In Event of Death
       Agreement Against Force Sale
       Agreement Against Petition to Partition
       Past/Future Lien Satisfaction
       Further Additional Burdens Agreement
       Insurance Maintenance Agreement
       Interest, Taxes and Other Estate Payments
       Utility Expenses
       Routine Expenses Payment Agreement
       Capital Improvements Agreement
       Major Repairs Agreement
       Non-Compliance Provisions
       Non-compliance Compensation Agreement
       Spouse Inspection Right
       Tenants and Visitors Restrictions
       Rent and Other Proceeds Distribution

    The Agreement to 'Sell':
       Fair Market Value Decision
       Past Liens Satisfaction and Content
       Standard Closing Expenses Satisfaction
       Proceeds from Sale Distribution
           Credit for Reduction of Mortgage's Principal Balance
           Credit for Capital Improvements
       Other Party Purchase Interest Right

8. INCOME TAXES AND RETURNS

    Joint/Separate
       Alimony Tax Allocation
       Filing of Returns Agreement
       Preparation Help
       Past and Future Income Tax Refunds' Allocation

9. OTHERS

    Miscellaneous Issues
       Waiver of Interest in Other Party's Estate
       Allocation of Responsibility for Future Debts Compensation
       All Rights and Obligations Satisfaction
       Agreement to Issues in the Agreement Only
       Jurisdiction of Court Submission
       Claims Waiver to Others Estates
       Financial Statements Right
       Right to Consult Independent Attorney
       Reading and Understanding of Agreement
       No Extrinsic Inducements
       No Coercion
       Voluntary and Free Signing

      

The divorce agreement checklist for men and the one for women is almost the same as they are both individuals of equal standing before the court. The assets should be taken care of properly as these might cause problems in situations where you can't divide them. The 'Real Property' and 'Personal Property' points in this divorce agreement template can be removed to form an entirely different divorce financial checklist.

I hope this checklist helped you in sorting out as many issues as possible. Even though you have thought over all these issues, it is necessary that you talk to your lawyer about the whole agreement to see if you have left out any other issues and settlements that you need to sort out. Hope this divorce settlement checklist made the whole process simpler for you.