The time has come when the divorce is official, and it is time to celebrate. Do you throw the stack of documents into the air to rain down on you like a storm of confetti or toss it in the fire for added kindling the next time you and a new beau are keeping each other warm? Perhaps you save it for a few years only to shred it the next time you need some space in the filing cabinet? Although any of these might result in a feeling of closure and satisfaction, none of them would be advisable with divorce papers. You will likely want to keep them in the event of alimony or support modification and a variety of other purposes.What to Do with ThemAs with any important legal document, it is advisable to keep your divorce papers. You may keep them in a filing cabinet or even a shoe box in your home, or you can take the extra step to put them in a safety deposit box. There are a wide variety of reasons to keep them, no matter how badly you would like never to think of them again, including:Proof: Many services offered will request proof of divorce. Also, if you ever want to get married again, the judge will not take you at your word and will need the evidentiary support of the divorce finalization; andReference for future events: Years and even decades from now, there may be a clause from those documents that will come into play. For instance, the pension plan and 401(k) plan distribution. You will want to ensure complete delivery of the share to which you are entitled.What Pieces to KeepAs you are aware, many pieces make up the whole of the divorce agreement. It is highly advised to keep all of the documents together. However, if for some reason this is not possible the most necessary pieces to keep are:Copies of checks or money orders: Keep records of any child support or alimony payments. If the paying spouse insists on paying cash, issue a receipt each payment. Keep a log of all payments received and not received;Financial documents: These are the bank statements, credit card statements, any retirement account statements, and tax returns for potential future modification requests. It will save you time, and time is money;Marriage license: The original marriage license and the final judgment and decree are equally important, especially if you have been married for more than ten years; andSettlement agreement and final judgment and decree: Both sets of papers are important for a variety of situations, including modifications and changing your name to your maiden name.Documentation is necessary for almost everything you would like to accomplish legally. If you are having difficulty obtaining documents for a divorce or modification or are questioning if the paper you have is important enough to keep, it is often beneficial to discuss the situation with an experienced lawyer. If you are interested in presenting your questions to a qualified and proven Morgan Hill, CA divorce attorney, contact The Law Offices of Steven E. Springer today at one of our three offices in Morgan Hill, San Jose, and Fremont. Call us to schedule your free initial 20-minute consultation at 408-779-4700 or 510-791-7137. Sources:https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/family/divorce.aspxhttp://www.occourts.org/directory/family/records.html
