How to Fill Out the Indiana Financial Declaration for Divorce

Every person going through a divorce in Indiana must complete and exchange a Verified Financial Declaration Form. This isn't optional — it's signed under penalty of perjury, and failing to submit it on time can result in the court accepting your spouse's numbers by default, awarding hidden assets entirely to the other side, or holding you in contempt.

The form itself is dense and intimidating, but the underlying logic is straightforward: the court needs a complete picture of what both spouses own and owe so it can divide the marital pot fairly.

What the Form Covers

The Financial Declaration requires detailed information across several categories:

• Income: Gross and net wages, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, Social Security, disability, and any other regular source of funds
• Monthly expenses: Housing, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, childcare, and personal expenses
• Assets: Real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, business interests, and personal property of significant value
• Debts: Mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, student loans, medical bills, tax obligations, and personal loans
• Insurance: Health, life, auto, and property coverage with premium amounts

Each section requires specific dollar amounts — not ranges, not estimates, not "approximately." Write the exact figure from your most recent statement.

Required Attachments

The form alone is not enough. You must physically attach:

• Federal income tax returns for the last three taxable years, including all W-2s, 1099s, and schedules
• Proof of current income — if your pay stub doesn't show year-to-date earnings, attach the eight most recent consecutive pay stubs
• Most recent statements for every debt listed (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages)
• Bank statements for all checking, savings, and investment accounts
• Retirement account statements — 401(k), IRA, pension valuation documents
• Written verification from your employer of the cost of medical insurance for children
• Receipts or statements for work-related childcare costs

Missing even one attachment can trigger sanctions. If you're waiting on a professional appraisal for real estate or a business, submit the form on time with a written notation that "appraisals are being obtained" — then file a supplemental declaration within 30 days of the initial exchange.

County-Specific Deadlines

Indiana counties set their own deadlines for exchanging the Financial Declaration, and they vary significantly:

30-day counties: Hamilton County and Marion County require the completed form with all attachments to be exchanged within 30 days of the initial filing of the divorce petition.

60-day counties: Lake County and White County give parties 60 days from filing. But this is still aggressive — it means you should be gathering documents from day one.

These deadlines apply equally to self-represented litigants and those with attorneys. The court will not cut you slack because you didn't know about the deadline or couldn't find your tax returns.

Consequences of Incomplete or Late Disclosure

The court takes financial disclosure seriously. Under Indiana Trial Rule 37 and local county rules, sanctions for non-compliance include:

• Default acceptance of the other spouse's valuations
• Awarding the hidden or undisclosed asset entirely to the other spouse
• Ordering the non-compliant party to pay the other side's attorney fees and investigator costs
• Contempt of court, which can include fines or jail time
• Adverse inference — the court assumes the hidden asset was worth the maximum plausible amount

Discovery Beyond the Financial Declaration

In contested divorces, the Financial Declaration is the starting point, not the finish line. Either party can use formal discovery tools to dig deeper:

Interrogatories are written questions the other spouse must answer under oath. They're used to clarify vague entries on the Financial Declaration or identify assets that weren't disclosed.

Requests for production demand specific documents — additional bank statements, business records, loan applications, or insurance policies.

Depositions involve sworn, recorded testimony where an attorney questions the other spouse directly about their finances.

If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets, formal discovery is the mechanism for uncovering them. The court can compel production and sanction a spouse who obstructs the process.

Getting It Right the First Time

The Financial Declaration is the foundation of every property division negotiation and court ruling in your case. Errors or omissions undermine your credibility and can cost you financially.

The Indiana Divorce Financial Split Guide includes a financial disclosure checklist organized by the exact categories on the form, with a document tracker for every required attachment — so you can verify completeness before you sign under penalty of perjury.

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