Financial Documents Needed for Rhode Island Divorce

Why Document Gathering Comes First

Every Rhode Island divorce requires both spouses to file a Form DR-6 — a nine-page financial statement covering income, expenses, assets, and liabilities, submitted under penalty of perjury. You cannot complete it accurately without the underlying documentation. More importantly, assembling these records early reduces attorney fees (you are not paying $300 per hour for a paralegal to chase down your bank statements) and gives you a clear picture of the marital estate before negotiations begin.

Income Documentation

• Pay stubs — at least the last three months, showing gross income, deductions, and year-to-date totals
• Federal and state tax returns — the last three years, including all schedules and W-2s
• 1099 forms — for freelance income, contract work, interest, dividends, and rental income
• Business tax returns — if either spouse owns a business, the last three years of the entity's returns (Schedule C, partnership K-1s, or corporate returns)
• Social Security statements — your estimated benefit amounts from ssa.gov

The DR-6 requires converting all income to monthly amounts using a 4.3x weekly multiplier. Having pay stubs with clear weekly or biweekly breakdowns makes this calculation straightforward.

Bank and Investment Accounts

• Bank statements — every checking, savings, money market, and CD account, joint or individual, for the last 12 months minimum
• Brokerage statements — investment accounts, mutual fund accounts, and stock holdings
• Cryptocurrency records — wallet balances, exchange account statements, and transaction histories
• Safe deposit box inventory — contents and location of any safe deposit box held by either spouse

Look for accounts you may have forgotten about — old savings accounts, credit union accounts from previous employers, custodial accounts. Run a free check at missingmoney.com for unclaimed property in either spouse's name.

Real Estate

• Mortgage statements — current balance, interest rate, monthly payment, and lender contact information
• Property deeds — showing how title is held (joint tenants, tenants in common, or individual)
• Property tax bills — the most recent assessment
• Homeowner insurance declarations — current coverage and premiums
• Appraisals — any recent appraisals, or comparable sale data for an informal estimate
• HELOC or second mortgage statements — balance and terms
• Rental property records — income, expenses, leases, and mortgage statements for any investment properties

Retirement and Pension Accounts

• 401(k) and 403(b) statements — current balance, employer match details, and vesting schedule
• IRA statements — traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA account balances
• Pension benefit statements — for state (ERSRI), municipal, or private pensions, showing years of service, accrued benefit, and projected retirement benefit
• Military retirement statements — Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) and retirement point summaries
• Deferred compensation plan statements — if either spouse participates in a 457 or similar plan

For ERSRI pensions, contact the system directly for an up-to-date benefit estimate. You will need this to calculate the marital portion using the coverture fraction.

Debts and Liabilities

• Credit card statements — every card, joint or individual, for the last 12 months
• Auto loan agreements — balance, payment, and whose name is on the loan
• Student loan statements — federal and private, showing balance, payment, and origination date
• Medical bills — any outstanding balances
• Personal loans — including loans from family members
• Tax debts — any outstanding federal or state tax obligations
• Credit reports — pull a free report from annualcreditreport.com for both spouses to identify all open accounts and debts

Credit reports are especially important for catching debts you may not know about — a credit card your spouse opened individually, a line of credit you forgot existed, or a judgment from an unpaid bill.

Insurance Policies

• Health insurance — current policy, premiums, and who is covered
• Life insurance — policy face value, cash surrender value, beneficiary designations, and premium amounts
• Auto insurance — current coverage and premiums
• Homeowner or renter insurance — coverage amounts
• Disability and long-term care insurance — coverage and premiums

For the filing spouse, Rhode Island's automatic orders take effect when the complaint is filed; for the other spouse, they take effect on service. They prohibit changing beneficiaries of existing life insurance policies or canceling required insurance coverage after that point. Document current coverage before filing so any violations are detectable.

Business Records (If Applicable)

• Profit and loss statements — monthly for the last three years
• Balance sheets — current and year-end for the last three years
• Business bank statements — separate from personal accounts
• Accounts receivable and payable — aging reports
• Buy-sell agreements — any agreement that restricts the sale or transfer of ownership interests
• Business valuation reports — if one was done for financing, insurance, or other purposes

Personal Property

• Vehicle titles — make, model, year, mileage, and fair market value (use NADA or Kelley Blue Book)
• Jewelry appraisals — for significant pieces
• Art, antiques, and collectibles — any items with meaningful value
• Boats, RVs, or recreational vehicles — titles and current values

Organizing Everything

Create a single folder (physical or digital) with sections for each category above. This becomes your working reference for completing the DR-6, preparing for mediation or settlement negotiations, and providing documents during discovery if the case is contested.

The Rhode Island Financial Split Guide includes a structured financial inventory worksheet organized to match the DR-6's layout — so every document you gather maps directly to a specific line on the form.

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