Georgia Divorce Assets and Liabilities Checklist | What to Gather for Your Divorce

Going through a divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to identify property, debts, income, expenses, and financial records at the same time.  A complete divorce assets and liabilities checklist can help you organize the information your attorney may need to evaluate your case, prepare financial disclosures, negotiate a settlement, or present evidence to the court.

In Georgia, financial information may affect the equitable division of marital property and debt, alimony, child support, attorney’s fees, and temporary financial issues.  Georgia courts have authority to carry out property dispositions in divorce cases under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-13.  In cases involving child support, Georgia law requires the court to consider each parent’s income and the applicable child support guidelines under O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15.

This checklist is designed to help you gather the information that may be important in a Georgia divorce.  It is also useful for preparing your Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, child support worksheets, discovery responses, mediation materials, and settlement discussions.

Why a Complete Financial Checklist Matters in a Georgia Divorce

A divorce settlement or court order may address much more than who keeps the house or who pays a credit card.  Financial information can affect the division of real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts, businesses, investment accounts, household property, debts, child support, and possible alimony.

Georgia uses equitable division principles for marital assets and marital liabilities.  This does not necessarily mean that every asset or debt will be divided equally.  Instead, the facts of the marriage, the source of funds, each spouse’s contributions, and the nature of the asset or debt may matter.

Under Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2, parties in cases involving child support, alimony, equitable division of property, modification proceedings, or attorney’s fees generally must exchange a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit before a temporary or final hearing.  The rule also requires child support worksheets and schedules in cases involving child support.  O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 requires the use of Georgia child support guidelines and financial information from both parents.

Before You Begin Gathering Documents

Create a secure folder for copies of documents, account statements, tax returns, appraisals, photographs, loan statements, and correspondence.  Save electronic documents as PDFs whenever possible.  Make notes about the date each account was opened, whether it existed before the marriage, and whether inherited or gifted funds were used.

Do not alter records, hide assets, transfer property, empty accounts, or destroy financial documents.  O.C.G.A. § 19-5-7 addresses certain transfers of property after a divorce action is filed.  Questions about transfers, withdrawals, gifts, or unusual spending should be discussed with your attorney promptly.

When financial documents are filed with the court, do not include complete Social Security numbers, complete account numbers, or full dates of birth unless specifically required by law or court order.  Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2 generally limits financial account information in filed documents to the last four digits.

Divorce Assets Checklist

Real Estate and Marital Homes

List every piece of real estate owned by either spouse, jointly or separately.  This includes the marital residence, rental homes, vacation homes, land, commercial property, inherited property, and timeshares.

For each property, gather:

• Property address and county
• Current deed and title information
• Date of purchase
• Purchase price
• Amount and source of down payment
• Closing disclosure or settlement statement
• Current mortgage balance
• Home equity loan or line of credit balance
• Monthly mortgage payment
• Property tax amount
• Homeowners insurance cost
• Current estimated market value
• Recent appraisal, broker price opinion, or comparable sales information
• Rental income and lease agreements, if applicable
• Repair estimates, liens, code violations, or pending property claims
• Information about who has paid mortgage, taxes, insurance, repairs, or improvements

It is important to identify whether a property was acquired before the marriage, during the marriage, by inheritance, by gift, or through the use of separate funds.  The source of the down payment and mortgage payments may be important when evaluating the parties’ respective interests in the property.

Vehicles, Motorcycles, Recreational Vehicles, and Equipment

List all vehicles owned, leased, financed, or regularly used by either spouse.  This can include automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, boats, campers, recreational vehicles, farm equipment, work vehicles, and vehicles titled in a business name.

For each vehicle or item, gather:

• Year, make, model, and trim level
• Vehicle identification number
• Current mileage
• License plate number
• Title or registration
• Current fair market value
• Loan or lease balance
• Monthly payment
• Name of lender
• Purchase date
• Purchase price
• Down payment information
• Trade in allowance, if applicable
• Insurance information
• Repair or accident history, if material
• Whether the vehicle is used for work, business, farming, or transportation of children

Bank Accounts, Cash, and Payment Applications

Identify all financial accounts held individually, jointly, or through a business.  This includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, credit union accounts, online bank accounts, payment applications, prepaid accounts, cryptocurrency platforms, and cash kept at home.

For each account, gather:

• Name and address of the financial institution
• Type of account
• Name or names on the account
• Last four digits of the account number
• Date the account was opened
• Current balance
• Statements for at least the previous twelve months, or longer if requested
• Information about large deposits, withdrawals, transfers, or cash transactions
• Records showing whether inherited, gifted, premarital, or separate funds were deposited into the account

Cash withdrawals, transfers to relatives, payment applications, and unusually large purchases should be documented carefully.  A clear paper trail can be important when explaining where marital funds were spent.

Retirement Accounts, Pensions, and Deferred Compensation

Retirement accounts are often among the most valuable assets in a divorce.  Gather information for both spouses, including accounts held through an employer, former employer, military service, self-employment, or private investing.

This may include:

• 401(k) plans
• 403(b) plans
• 457 plans
• Traditional IRAs
• Roth IRAs
• SEP IRAs
• SIMPLE IRAs
• Defined benefit pension plans
• Military retirement
• Federal thrift savings plans
• Deferred compensation plans
• Annuities
• Stock ownership plans
• Profit sharing plans

For each account or plan, gather:

• Name of the plan administrator
• Current account statement
• Account balance on the date of marriage, if available
• Account balance on the date of separation, if available
• Current account balance
• Loan balance against the account
• Vesting information
• Contribution history
• Employer matching contributions
• Beneficiary designation
• Summary plan description
• Information about any withdrawals, rollovers, or distributions
• Information about whether a Qualified Domestic Relations Order may be needed

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Investment Accounts, and Cryptocurrency

List all investments held individually, jointly, in trust, through a business, or through a retirement account.  This includes publicly traded securities and digital assets.

Gather the following:

• Brokerage account statements
• Name of brokerage firm
• Investment account number using only the last four digits
• Names on the account
• Number of shares or units owned
• Purchase date and purchase price
• Current market value
• Cost basis information
• Dividend and interest income
• Cryptocurrency exchange statements
• Cryptocurrency wallet information
• Records of transfers, sales, or withdrawals
• Trust account information, if applicable

Certificates of Deposit, Savings Bonds, and Other Cash Assets

For each certificate of deposit, savings bond, treasury instrument, or similar account, gather:

• Financial institution or issuer
• Face amount
• Purchase date
• Maturity date
• Interest rate
• Current value
• Location of the original certificate
• Name of the account holder
• Any loan or lien against the asset

Furniture, Appliances, Electronics, and Household Items

Make a room by room list of significant household property.  You do not necessarily need to list every low-value item, but a complete inventory can reduce disagreements later.

Consider including:

• Furniture
• Appliances
• Televisions and electronics
• Computers and tablets
• Home office equipment
• Jewelry
• Firearms
• Tools
• Lawn equipment
• Exercise equipment
• Musical instruments
• Artwork
• Antiques
• Collectibles
• Sports equipment
• Cameras
• Designer items
• High-value kitchen equipment

For valuable items, gather photographs, receipts, appraisals, warranties, serial numbers, and an estimated fair market value.  Fair market value is usually different from the original purchase price.

Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Other Insurance Policies

Insurance policies may have cash value, loan value, death benefits, or relevance to child support and alimony issues.

For each policy, gather:

• Name of insurance company
• Policy number using only the last four digits when appropriate
• Type of policy
• Name of insured person
• Policy owner
• Beneficiary designation
• Face value or death benefit
• Cash surrender value
• Outstanding policy loans
• Premium amount
• Payment history
• Date the policy was purchased
• Reason and date of any policy loan
• Disability insurance benefit information
• Long-term care insurance information

Business Interests and Self-Employment

If either spouse owns, operates, manages, or has an interest in a business, gather as much financial information as possible.  Businesses may include corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, professional practices, online businesses, franchises, rental-property businesses, consulting work, and side businesses.

Gather:

• Legal name of the business
• Date the business was formed
• State of formation
• Ownership percentage of each spouse
• Articles of organization or incorporation
• Operating agreement, partnership agreement, bylaws, or shareholder agreement
• Business tax returns for at least the past three years
• Personal tax returns for at least the past three years
• Profit and loss statements
• Balance sheets
• Business bank account statements
• Business credit card statements
• Payroll records
• Accounts receivable reports
• Accounts payable reports
• Inventory lists
• Equipment lists
• Business debt information
• Business valuation reports
• Buy-sell agreements
• Lease agreements
• Information about employees and payroll
• Location of business books and records
• Pending lawsuits, judgments, or tax liabilities

Business income can be relevant to property division, child support, alimony, and attorney’s fees.  Accurate records are especially important where a spouse is self-employed, receives cash income, owns multiple businesses, or receives income through a corporation or limited liability company.

Education, Career Support, and Professional Development

If one spouse supported the other’s education, professional licensing, career development, or business development during the marriage, gather documentation.  This may be relevant to certain financial issues, including alimony considerations.

Gather:

• Dates the spouse attended school or training
• Degree, certification, or license earned
• Tuition payments
• Student loan information
• Scholarships or grants
• Household income during the education period
• Child care expenses during the education period
• Records showing whether one spouse worked while the other attended school
• Records of financial contributions toward career training or business development

Georgia law defines alimony as an allowance from one spouse’s estate for the support of the other spouse while the parties live separately.  O.C.G.A. § 19-6-1.  Financial records can help show each party’s income, needs, expenses, and ability to pay.

Separate Property, Gifts, and Inheritances

Separate property may include property acquired before marriage, inherited property, gifts made specifically to one spouse, or property acquired with separate funds.  However, separate property issues can become more complicated when funds are mixed with marital money or used to purchase jointly titled assets.

For each item of claimed separate property, gather:

• Description of the property
• Date acquired
• How the property was acquired
• Purchase price or inherited value
• Source of funds used to acquire the property
• Bank statements showing the movement of funds
• Gift letters, wills, probate records, or trust documents
• Evidence of premarital ownership
• Records of marital contributions to the property
• Current fair market value
• Current debt or lien balance

Divorce Liabilities and Debt Checklist

Credit Cards and Consumer Debt

List every credit card, store card, personal loan, line of credit, and buy-now-pay-later account.  Include accounts in either spouse’s individual name, joint names, or business names.

For each debt, gather:

• Name of creditor
• Account type
• Last four digits of account number
• Current balance
• Credit limit
• Monthly payment
• Interest rate
• Date the account was opened
• Name or names responsible for the debt
• Purpose of the charges
• Recent account statements
• Information about unusual charges, cash advances, gifts, travel, gambling, or transfers
• Whether the debt was incurred before marriage, during marriage, or after separation

Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, and Real Estate Debt

For every property loan, gather:

• Name of lender
• Current mortgage balance
• Monthly payment
• Interest rate
• Escrow amount
• Home equity loan balance
• Line of credit balance
• Payment history
• Late notices or foreclosure notices
• Whether either spouse remains responsible on the loan
• Information about refinancing options

A divorce decree can allocate responsibility between spouses, but it generally does not remove either spouse from the underlying mortgage contract with the lender.  Refinancing, sale, assumption, or lender approval may be necessary to remove a spouse from a mortgage obligation.

Vehicle Loans and Leases

For each vehicle loan or lease, gather:

• Lender or leasing company
• Current payoff amount
• Monthly payment
• Interest rate
• Lease termination date
• Early termination cost, if applicable
• Insurance requirements
• Name or names on the loan or lease
• Vehicle title information

Student Loans, Tax Debt, and Government Debt

List all student loans, tax obligations, government overpayments, child support arrears, and other government-related debts.

Gather:

• Name of creditor or agency
• Current balance
• Monthly payment
• Repayment plan
• Interest rate
• Tax returns and tax transcripts
• IRS or Georgia Department of Revenue notices
• Student loan servicing statements
• Information about income-driven repayment plans
• Information about any tax liens, levies, or payment agreements

Medical Debt and Health Care Expenses

List unpaid medical bills, hospital bills, dental bills, therapy expenses, prescription costs, and health care payment plans.

Gather:

• Provider name
• Date of service
• Amount owed
• Insurance explanation of benefits
• Payment plan information
• Whether the expense relates to a child or either spouse
• Whether reimbursement is expected from insurance, a lawsuit, or another source

Income and Monthly Expense Checklist

Income Records

Income information is important in nearly every divorce involving child support, alimony, attorney’s fees, or temporary financial support.  O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 requires the court to use income information and child support worksheets when determining support.

Gather:

• Recent pay stubs
• W-2 forms
• 1099 forms
• Federal and state tax returns
• K-1 forms
• Bonus and commission records
• Overtime records
• Employment contracts
• Offer letters
• Severance agreements
• Pension income
• Social Security income
• Veterans benefits
• Workers’ compensation benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Rental income
• Business income
• Trust income
• Investment income
• Dividend income
• Royalties
• Cash income records
• Expense reimbursements
• Income from side work or online businesses

Monthly Expenses and Household Budget

Create a realistic monthly budget showing the actual cost of maintaining the household and caring for any children.  This information may be needed for a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit and may be important in determining temporary support, alimony, child support deviations, and settlement options.

Include:

• Rent or mortgage payment
• Property taxes and homeowners insurance
• Utilities
• Internet and cell phones
• Groceries
• Restaurants and household supplies
• Vehicle payments
• Fuel and maintenance
• Health insurance
• Medical expenses
• Child care
• School expenses
• Extracurricular activities
• Clothing
• Debt payments
• Life insurance
• Retirement contributions
• Pet expenses
• Charitable contributions
• Travel expenses
• Personal care expenses
• Professional expenses
• Business expenses not reimbursed by an employer

Important Documents to Provide to Your Divorce Attorney

Bring or securely send the following documents whenever possible:

• Last three years of federal and state tax returns
• Recent pay stubs
• Recent bank statements
• Recent credit card statements
• Retirement account statements
• Mortgage statements
• Vehicle loan statements
• Deeds and closing documents
• Insurance policies
• Business records
• Wills, trusts, and estate planning documents
• Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
• Court orders from prior family law cases
• Child support orders
• Proof of health insurance costs
• Proof of work-related child care costs
• Written communications about major financial issues
• Photographs of valuable personal property
• A written list of questions or concerns

Final Thoughts About Financial Preparation in a Georgia Divorce

The more complete your financial information is, the easier it is for your attorney to evaluate the case, identify missing assets or debts, prepare required financial documents, and work toward a fair settlement.  Missing records can delay mediation, increase legal fees, create discovery disputes, and make it more difficult to prove the value or source of an asset.

Every divorce is different.  A short marriage with limited assets may require far less documentation than a divorce involving a home, retirement accounts, a business, inherited property, children, support issues, or substantial debt.  Starting with a thorough checklist can help you protect your interests and make better decisions throughout the process.

This article provides general information about Georgia divorce and financial preparation.  It is not legal advice, and the facts of each case may require additional documents or analysis.

Updated on:  2026-08-20