Divorce With Children: Extra Documents You Need to Prepare

Children Add an Entire Second Layer of Paperwork

A divorce without children is primarily a financial exercise — divide assets, divide debts, finalize the decree. Add minor children to the equation, and the document requirements roughly double. Courts require parenting plans, child support calculations, proof of the children's expenses, evidence supporting custody arrangements, and in many states, completion of a mandatory parenting education course.

The financial documents do not go away — you still need every tax return, bank statement, and asset inventory. But now you also need to document your children's lives in granular detail, because every custody and support decision the court makes depends on concrete information about the children's needs, routines, and expenses.

The Parenting Plan

Every state requires a parenting plan (sometimes called a custody agreement or parenting time schedule) when minor children are involved. The plan must be specific enough that both parents know exactly where the children are on any given day. Courts reject vague arrangements like "we will figure it out" or "the children will spend equal time with each parent."

A complete parenting plan addresses:

• Legal custody — Who makes major decisions about the children's education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities. This can be sole (one parent) or joint (both parents).
• Physical custody — Where the children primarily live
• Regular parenting schedule — The specific days and times each parent has the children during a typical week
• Holiday schedule — How holidays are divided, including Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, summer vacation, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and each parent's and child's birthday
• Vacation time — How many weeks each parent gets for vacation and how much advance notice is required
• Exchange logistics — Where and when children are picked up and dropped off, and who provides transportation
• Communication — How the children communicate with the non-custodial parent (phone calls, video calls), and how the parents communicate with each other about the children
• Relocation provisions — What happens if one parent wants to move out of the area

Document the current arrangement in as much detail as possible, even before it is formalized. If you have been the parent handling school drop-offs, medical appointments, and homework, document that pattern — it becomes evidence of the established routine courts prefer to preserve.

Child Support Worksheet

Every state has a formula for calculating child support based on both parents' incomes and the parenting time split. The worksheet requires specific financial information:

• Both parents' gross income from all sources
• The number of overnights each parent has per year (this directly affects the support calculation in most states)
• Health insurance premiums for the children
• Childcare costs (daycare, after-school programs, summer camp)
• Any extraordinary medical or educational expenses
• Other child support obligations either parent has from prior relationships

Courts strongly prefer that the agreed child support amount matches the guideline calculation. If it deviates significantly, you must provide a written justification explaining why the deviation serves the children's best interests.

Children's Expense Documentation

Support calculations rely on documented expenses, not estimates. Collect:

• Childcare costs — Daycare invoices, nanny contracts, after-school program fees, summer camp tuition
• Health insurance — The monthly premium amount specifically attributable to covering the children on a parent's employer plan (the employer can provide this breakdown)
• Unreimbursed medical expenses — Copays, prescriptions, dental work, orthodontics, therapy, vision care. Save every receipt and explanation of benefits (EOB) from insurance.
• School expenses — Tuition for private school (if applicable), school supply lists and receipts, technology fees, uniform costs
• Extracurricular activities — Sports registration, instrument lessons, club fees, travel team costs
• Clothing and personal items — While courts do not typically require receipts for routine clothing, documenting the cost of children's clothing can support requests for support adjustments

Organize these expenses by child and by category. The clearer the documentation, the more credible your support calculations appear to the court.

School and Medical Records

Courts consider the children's established routines when making custody decisions. Documenting where the children go to school, who takes them to the doctor, and who communicates with teachers can support your position.

School records to collect:

• Current enrollment records showing the child's school, grade, and home address on file
• Report cards and progress reports (past 2 years)
• Records of parent-teacher conference attendance
• School emergency contact forms showing which parent is listed
• IEP or 504 plans if the child receives special education services
• Records of who handles school communications (email logs with teachers, school portal login history)

Medical records to gather:

• Pediatrician visit records showing which parent brought the child to appointments
• Vaccination records
• Prescription records for any ongoing medications
• Dental and orthodontic records
• Mental health records if the child sees a counselor or therapist (note: these may require a court order to access if the other parent objects)
• Health insurance cards and coverage documentation

Mandatory Parenting Education Courses

Many states require both parents to complete a court-approved parenting education course before the divorce is finalized. These courses cover the impact of divorce on children, co-parenting communication, and conflict resolution. Requirements vary:

• Some states require the course before any temporary orders are issued
• Others require completion before the final hearing
• Course length ranges from 2 hours to 12 hours depending on the state
• Both in-person and online options are usually available
• The course provider issues a certificate of completion that must be filed with the court

Check your county court's website for a list of approved providers. Using an unapproved course means completing it again with an approved provider.

Guardian Ad Litem and Custody Evaluation Documents

In contested custody cases, the court may appoint a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) or order a custody evaluation. If this happens, you will need to provide additional documentation:

• Your proposed parenting plan with a detailed explanation of why it serves the children's best interests
• A personal statement about your relationship with each child
• References — names and contact information for people who can speak to your parenting (teachers, coaches, family friends, pediatricians)
• Any records of concerning behavior by the other parent (police reports, text messages, photographs)
• Documentation of your home environment (living arrangements, proximity to the children's school, available space for the children)

Keeping Child-Related Documents Organized

The sheer volume of child-related paperwork — school records, medical receipts, expense documentation, parenting schedules — can overwhelm the system you use for the financial side of the divorce. The Divorce Document Organizer & Checklist includes dedicated sections for child-related documentation, including a parenting time planner and expense tracking worksheets that keep everything separated by child and by category.