Divorce mediation is a confidential negotiation led by a neutral mediator, and Florida courts routinely send family cases to mediation before they can reach trial. The first session moves faster, and costs less, when both spouses arrive working from the same numbers. For couples with complex assets, a high net worth divorce financial planner usually starts with the eight documents below. After the list, you’ll find five financial firms to know as you prepare.
What documents should you bring to divorce mediation in Florida?
1. Do you need a completed financial affidavit?
Yes. A financial affidavit is a sworn form listing your income, expenses, assets, and debts, and it anchors nearly every mediation discussion. Florida uses Form 12.902(b) for people earning under $50,000 a year and the long form, 12.902(c), for everyone else. Because you sign it under oath, reconcile every line against your actual statements.
2. How many years of tax returns should you bring?
Bring at least three years of returns with every schedule attached, which is what Florida’s mandatory disclosure rule, Family Law Rule 12.285, requires. For high-income households the schedules matter more than the first page. Schedule K-1s show partnership and S corporation income, and Schedule D shows realized gains and any loss carryforwards that may hold value.
3. What proof of income goes beyond a pay stub?
Recent pay stubs show base salary, but executives and business owners often earn much of their income elsewhere. Gather your bonus history, deferred compensation statements, and equity award records showing grant dates, vesting schedules, and strike prices for stock options or restricted stock units. Unvested awards granted during the marriage are often a major point of negotiation.
4. Which account statements does the mediator need?
Bring recent statements for every checking, savings, brokerage, and crypto account, along with mortgages, lines of credit, and credit cards. Rule 12.285 generally calls for the most recent 12 months. Ask your brokerage for a cost basis report as well, since two accounts with the same balance can leave very different tax bills.
5. What retirement records should you collect?
Collect the latest statement for each 401(k), 403(b), IRA, and pension, plus each employer plan’s summary plan description. For a pension, request a benefit estimate showing the projected monthly payment. If an account will be split, ask the plan administrator for its QDRO procedures, the rules it follows to approve a qualified domestic relations order dividing the plan.
6. What paperwork do you need for each property?
For every home, rental, or vacation property, bring the deed, the latest mortgage statement, the property tax bill, and the homeowners insurance declarations page. Note whether a Florida homestead exemption applies. A recent appraisal or broker opinion of value gives both spouses a shared starting figure instead of competing guesses.
7. What business records will be requested?
If either spouse owns a business or professional practice, gather three to five years of business tax returns and financial statements, the operating or shareholder agreement, and any buy-sell agreement. A buy-sell agreement sometimes sets a valuation formula, though that formula isn’t always accepted as fair market value in a divorce.
8. Is there a prenuptial agreement or trust to review?
Bring any prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, along with trust documents and life insurance policies. A prenuptial agreement can decide whether alimony is owed and which assets stay separate, so the mediator needs to see it early. Cash value life insurance is an asset in its own right and belongs on your affidavit.
Who can help you prepare for divorce mediation?
Five financial firms to know as you prepare:
- Janice Berner, CDFA®
- Guided Financial Advisors
- Lee Wealth Management
- Davis Private Wealth, LLC
- Advise Financial
1. Janice Berner, CDFA®, High Net Worth Divorce Financial Planner
Janice Berner, CDFA®, is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and financial advisor who helps clients prepare the financial side of mediation. That work can include reviewing a financial affidavit for gaps, building a post-divorce budget, and showing how proposed divisions of investments, retirement accounts, and real estate are likely to look years after the settlement. She collaborates with attorneys and mediators, and her practice extends to retirement, investment, and insurance planning once the divorce is final.
2. Guided Financial Advisors
A financial advisory firm with an office on South Rosemary Avenue in West Palm Beach.
3. Lee Wealth Management
A wealth management firm located on US-1 in Jupiter.
4. Davis Private Wealth, LLC
A private wealth firm with an office on Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach.
5. Advise Financial
A financial planning firm with an office on Yamato Road in Boca Raton.
How much preparation is enough before the first session?
Arriving with these documents won’t settle a case by itself, but it changes what the first session is about. Instead of spending paid hours tracking down statements, both spouses can start comparing real options. Make two copies of everything, flag any account you can’t access, and write down the questions you want answered. A high net worth divorce financial planner can review the file before you walk in, so the first proposal you weigh is one you already understand. Start gathering now, and book a financial review well before your mediation date.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice.
