What Documents Do You Need for Divorce in Minnesota

Court Forms: What You File

The specific court forms depend on your filing track and whether you have minor children. Here's the breakdown:

Joint Petition (no children): DIV103 (Certificate of Dissolution), Joint Petition form, Marital Termination Agreement, proposed Judgment and Decree.

Joint Petition (with children): DIV1702 (Joint Petition with Children), DIV103, Parenting Plan, Child Support Worksheet, MTA, proposed Judgment and Decree.

Sole Petition (no children): DIV402 (Petition for Dissolution without Children), DIV403 (Summons), DIV103, CON112 (Cover Sheet for Non-Public Documents, Form 11.2) if filing non-public documents.

Sole Petition (with children): DIV802 (Petition for Dissolution with Children), DIV803 (Combined Summons), DIV103, CON112 (Cover Sheet for Non-Public Documents, Form 11.2) if filing non-public documents.

Summary Dissolution: DIV202 (Summary Dissolution Form), DIV103.

Rule 11 forms (when applicable): CON111 (Confidential Information Form, Form 11.1) for restricted identifiers, and CON112 (Cover Sheet for Non-Public Documents, Form 11.2) when filing non-public documents.

All forms are available free from mncourts.gov. The Minnesota Guide & File portal generates customized forms based on your answers to an interactive questionnaire.

Financial Documents: What You Gather

Minnesota requires both spouses to make full, honest financial disclosure. Hiding assets or income can lead to the decree being reopened — even years later. Gather these records before you start:

Income documentation:

• Last two years of federal and state tax returns
• Three to six months of pay stubs (both spouses)
• Records of self-employment income, freelance payments, or side-gig earnings
• Social Security or disability benefit statements
• Pension or retirement income statements

Asset documentation:

• Bank statements for every account (checking, savings, money market) — at least three months
• Investment account statements (brokerage, mutual funds, stocks)
• Retirement account statements (401(k), IRA, 403(b), pension)
• Real estate deeds and current market valuations (appraisals or recent comparable sales)
• Vehicle titles and estimated values (Kelley Blue Book or similar)
• Life insurance policies with cash values
• Business ownership documents and valuations, if applicable

Debt documentation:

• Credit card statements showing current balances
• Mortgage statements
• Auto loan or lease agreements
• Student loan statements
• Medical debt records
• Any court judgments or liens

Other records:

• Health insurance policy details (who's covered, monthly premiums)
• Monthly household expense breakdown (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, childcare, insurance)

Financial Affidavit: Form FAM102

The Financial Affidavit is the centerpiece of your financial disclosure. Form FAM102 asks each spouse to list their income from all sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities under oath. In cases with minor children or a request for spousal maintenance, Minnesota requires financial documentation; follow the case packet and court instructions to determine which forms must be filed.

In cases with minor children, FAM108 (Parenting / Financial Disclosure Statement) is also part of the disclosure packet.

Take your time with FAM102. Rushing through it or guessing at numbers creates problems. If the other spouse challenges your figures, a judge can order you to produce supporting documentation. Consistent, accurate disclosure from the start protects you.

Protecting Sensitive Information: Rule 11 Forms

Form 11.1 (Confidential Information Form) is used for restricted identifiers — complete or partial Social Security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, and financial account numbers other than the last four digits. Form 11.2 (Cover Sheet for Non-Public Documents) identifies non-public documents, such as financial source documents, while the cover sheet itself is public.

Minnesota court rules require restricted identifiers to be omitted from ordinary public filings unless necessary and submitted through Form 11.1 or another authorized procedure. Non-public documents must be separately identified under Rule 11.03; the cover sheet itself is public.

Common mistakes with the Rule 11 forms:

• Putting Social Security numbers in the petition itself. They do not belong in the petition; if necessary, use Form 11.1 under Rule 11.02.
• Using your property tax statement instead of the actual deed for your real estate legal description. The legal description must come from the recorded deed, not a tax document — tax statements sometimes abbreviate or omit details the court needs.
• Forgetting the cover sheet. Non-public financial source documents require the Form 11.2 cover sheet under Rule 11.03.

Service-Related Documents

If you're filing a sole petition (not a joint petition), you'll also need:

• Proof of service (DIV503 for cases without children, DIV903 for cases with children) — filed after your spouse has been served
• Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of Summons (CIV022A) and Waiver of Service (CIV022B) — if your spouse waives formal service
• Application for Service by Alternate Means (DIV1302) — only if your spouse can't be located for personal service

Staying Organized Through the Process

The sheer volume of documents is one of the biggest challenges for self-represented litigants. Missing one form — or filing the wrong version — can delay your case by weeks.

The Minnesota Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a financial disclosure organizer and document checklist matched to your specific filing track, so you know exactly which forms and records you need at each stage of the process.

See more Minnesota guides →