Take stock of your non-marital and marital assets
Gather all your financial documents and thoroughly assess the financial state of your marriage. This is important because divorce in Chicago or the Chicagoland area involves the equitable distribution of marital property and debts. Non-marital assets may have been acquired before the marriage, after legal separation, or by gift or inheritance. Marital property includes all assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage, with the exception of anything excluded by a prenuptial agreement or other marriage contract, or property acquired through gift or inheritance. Along with other documentation, you may need to collect:
- Tax returns
- Pay stubs
- Retirement or pension plan account information
- Bank and financial account statements