Financial Disclosures & Filing for Divorce: What You Need and Why It Matters

Whether you're just beginning your divorce journey or already in the thick of it, understanding disclosures is key. We’ll walk you through what they are, why they matter, and how they can become one of the most powerful tools in your strategy—not just a pile of paperwork.

This episode will help you rethink your first steps, take back control of the process, and avoid wasting money on the wrong professionals at the wrong time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, intimidated, or unsure of what your lawyer has already submitted, don’t worry—you’ll leave this episode with clarity and confidence.

Financial Disclosures & Filing for Divorce: What You Need and Why It Matters (Divorce Mediation StL)

If this episode resonated with you, don’t stop here.

✅ Start with your Position Statement — tell your story, list your priorities, and anchor your divorce strategy. Download the guide here (https://www.thedivorcevault.com/)

📂 Download your state’s financial disclosure forms and use our checklist to get organized before you spend a dollar on legal help.

📄 Use that information to create a Settlement Offer that leads your case instead of reacting to chaos.

🧠 If mediation is part of your process — or could be — we’ll show you how to navigate it, even with a high-conflict or narcissistic spouse, through our Mediation Prep Strategy Guides.

🔓 Want all of this in one place? Unlock The Divorce Vault, which gives you 6+ months of support, templates, AI tools, and insider strategy.

🤝 And if you’re craving real community and expert insight, join our weekly live sessions inside The Divorce Allies Circle. We’ll help you turn fear into clarity and lead your own case like a pro. https://www.thedivorceallies.com/

✅ 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Financial Disclosures Are Strategy, Not Just Paperwork
Disclosures aren’t busywork—they form the foundation of your settlement and influence how negotiations unfold.

Start With the Forms, Not the Lawyer
Downloading your state’s pro se forms is often a smarter first step than spending $5–10K on an attorney just to gather basic info.

Your Position Statement Is Your Blueprint
Combining your financial disclosures with a clear position statement gives you negotiating power and saves time across your legal team.

Missed Assets Create Legal Risk Later
Incomplete or inaccurate disclosures can damage your credibility and derail your case—especially when assets like businesses or SBA loans are overlooked.

You Can Revise and Reclaim Control
Even if disclosures were filed without your input, you can (and should) revisit, update, and use them to regain strategic control.

Q: What are financial disclosures in a divorce?
A: Financial disclosures are formal court documents where you list all income, expenses, assets, and debts—essentially a sworn financial truth that shapes the rest of your divorce strategy.

Q: Should I hire a lawyer before filling out disclosures?
A: Not necessarily. Start by downloading your state’s forms, gather your financial documents, and organize everything. Then decide if you need expert help—this can save you thousands in unnecessary legal fees.

Q: Can I update my disclosures if they were already filed by my attorney?
A: Yes, and you absolutely should. Request the filed version from your lawyer, revise with accurate data, and use it to build your position statement and settlement offer.

Q: How do disclosures give me leverage?
A: A complete, organized disclosure becomes the basis of your position statement. It helps your legal and financial experts negotiate from a place of truth, reducing costly surprises and missed assets later.

Melissa Gragg
https://www.valuationmediation.com/

Emile Flowers
https://www.divorcemortgageplanningservices.com/