Divorce Documents Required by State: California, Texas, New York, and Florida

Every State Has Its Own Paperwork Requirements

The core documents in a divorce case — financial records, identification, proof of marriage — are universal. But each state wraps them in its own specific forms, deadlines, and disclosure procedures. Missing a state-specific requirement does not just slow your case down; it can result in your petition being rejected outright or your financial disclosures being deemed incomplete.

Here is what you need to know about the document requirements in the four most-populated U.S. states.

California Divorce Disclosure Documents

California has one of the most structured disclosure systems in the country, built around two mandatory exchanges: the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure and the Final Declaration of Disclosure.

The Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (Form FL-140) must be served on your spouse within 60 days of filing the petition (or 60 days of filing a response, for the respondent). It requires:

• Form FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) — Monthly income from all sources, monthly expenses, tax filing status, and employment details
• Form FL-142 (Schedule of Assets and Debts) — Every asset and debt you are aware of, whether community or separate, with estimated values
• Supporting documents — Your two most recent tax returns, your two most recent pay stubs, and any other documents needed to verify income and assets

The Preliminary Declaration is served directly on the other party. It is never filed with the court. However, you must file a proof of service (Form FL-141) confirming you completed the exchange.

The Final Declaration of Disclosure (Form FL-140 again, marked as "Final") updates everything from the preliminary version and must be served before the court will finalize the divorce. Parties can waive the Final Declaration by mutual written agreement (Form FL-144), but the Preliminary is never waivable.

If you skip either disclosure, California courts will not sign your final judgment. There is no workaround.

Texas Divorce Documents Required

Texas takes a less structured but no less demanding approach. There are no state-mandated disclosure forms equivalent to California's FL-140 series, but the informal exchange of financial information is still required by the Texas Family Code.

To file: The petitioner files an Original Petition for Divorce with the district clerk in the county where at least one spouse has lived for 90 days (and in Texas for at least 6 months). The filing requires a cover sheet and the filing fee, which varies by county.

Financial documents you will need to compile:

• Inventory and Appraisement — A comprehensive list of all community and separate property, including values. Texas is a community property state, so everything acquired during the marriage is presumed to be jointly owned.
• Federal and state tax returns (typically 3–5 years)
• Bank and investment account statements (6–12 months)
• Retirement and pension account statements
• Real property deeds, mortgage statements, and appraisals
• Vehicle titles and loan documents
• Business financial statements if either spouse owns a business

Texas has a mandatory 60-day "cooling off" period from the date of filing before the court can grant the divorce. If children are involved, a parenting plan must be filed. In contested cases, formal discovery (interrogatories, requests for production) is the primary mechanism for compelling document exchange.

New York Divorce Paperwork Requirements

New York requires a Sworn Statement of Net Worth in every contested divorce and in any case where financial issues (support, property division) are in dispute.

To file: Purchase an Index Number from the county clerk, then file the Summons with Notice or Summons and Complaint. New York requires proof that the marriage has been "irretrievably broken" for at least six months.

The Statement of Net Worth is the backbone of New York financial disclosure. It is a detailed, sworn document covering:

• All income sources (employment, business, investments, government benefits)
• Monthly and annual expenses
• Every asset: real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, vehicles, jewelry, art, and other personal property
• Every liability: mortgages, credit cards, student loans, personal loans, tax obligations
• Any transfers of assets made in the three years preceding the action

New York also requires both parties to file a Certificate of Dissolution and comply with the Automatic Orders that take effect when the action is filed. These orders freeze major financial transactions — neither spouse can sell property, change insurance beneficiaries, or incur unusual debt.

For cases with children, a Child Support Standards Act worksheet must be completed, and parenting plans need to be established.

Florida Divorce Documents Needed

Florida mandates a Financial Affidavit within 45 days of service under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285. The specific form depends on your income:

• Form 12.902(b) — For parties with gross annual income under $50,000 (short form)
• Form 12.902(c) — For parties with gross annual income of $50,000 or more (long form)

Mandatory disclosure documents that must be exchanged alongside the Financial Affidavit:

• Federal and state tax returns, including all schedules and W-2s, for the past three years
• Pay stubs or proof of income for the past three months
• Bank, credit card, and financial institution statements for the past three months
• Your most recent statement for all retirement, pension, profit-sharing, and deferred compensation plans
• Corporate, partnership, or trust tax returns for any entity in which either party has an interest (past three years)
• All loan applications made in the past 12 months

Florida has a 20-day mandatory waiting period from filing before the court will finalize the divorce. For cases with children, both parties must complete a state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course.

The Universal Core Beneath State-Specific Requirements

While the forms and deadlines differ, the underlying documents are remarkably consistent. Every state requires you to produce:

• Proof of identity and marriage
• Comprehensive income verification
• Complete asset and debt inventories
• Tax returns (usually 3–5 years)
• Bank and financial account statements
• Retirement and pension documentation
• Real estate and vehicle records

The state-specific forms are templates for organizing this universal information. If you collect and organize all your financial records before looking at your state's specific forms, you will find that filling out those forms is mostly a matter of transferring data you already have.

The Divorce Document Organizer & Checklist provides a universal collection framework that covers all the documents needed regardless of which state you are filing in, plus jurisdiction-specific flags that tell you where to check your local court's requirements for additional forms or deadlines.