Initial Mandatory Disclosures

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Initial Mandatory Disclosures

When filing any kind of civil suit in Texas, there are initial mandatory disclosures that must be made. Texas court rules require every party in a lawsuit to send certain information about their claims or defenses to the other parties at the beginning of the case. Missing these disclosures can have a negative effect on your case.

Initial Instructions

The initial form that you file with the court comes with instructions that dictate:

  1. Parties to suits for divorce, annulment, or to declare marriage void must give the other party this information, as required by Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194.2.
  2. Keep a completed copy of this form for yourself. Attach the documents (like bank statements) that are required. You can attach additional pages on separate sheets of paper if you need more space for listing information.
  3. You must give this information to your spouse no later than 30 days after either party files an answer, waiver of service, counter-petition with the court clerk, or makes a general appearance. You and the other party may be able to agree to waive these initial disclosures.

What Documents Do You Need?

The information that you need to give  for a dissolution of marriage and/or family law cases is as follows:

  1.  Correct names and addresses of parties to the lawsuit
  2. The full names and dates of birth of the children
  3. Potential parties to the lawsuit
  4. Legal theories and factual bases of claims or defenses
  5. The amount and any method of calculating economic damages
  6. Persons with Knowledge of Relevant Facts (also known as witnesses)
  7. Documents, electronic items, or tangible things to be used in your case
  8. Indemnity and insuring agreements 
  9. Settlement agreements
  10. Witness statements
  11. Medical records or bills
  12. Medical records or bills from 3rd party authorizations
  13. Responsible 3rd parties
  14. Information Related to Real Property
  15. Information Related to Pensions and Retirement
  16. Insurance Policies: Life, Homeowners, and Automobile
  17. Information Related to Bank Accounts
  18. Health Insurance Policies available for child(ren) and spouses
  19. Federal Income Tax Information
  20. Payroll Information

All of these may not apply to your situation, but if so, they need to be filed at the beginning of the case.

This list may seem daunting, but preparedness is key. If you are considering filing for divorce, getting together all of these documents ahead of time can make your case filing easier.

Do I Need an Attorney?

Divorce law attorneys are familiar with how family court works and are well-versed in the paperwork needed. They can help you gather everything that you need to disclose and then continue to advocate for you throughout the divorce proceedings. When it comes to necessary paperwork and deadlines, you don’t want to miss anything, as it could delay or close your case.

If you have been served with divorce papers or are about to begin divorce proceedings, speak with family law attorneys for guidance on your case. Navarrette | Bowen, P.C. has a team of experienced divorce lawyers that can help. You can contact us to set up a confidential consultation to discuss your circumstances and receive guidance. We have our main office in downtown Denton – reach out today to see if we can help.

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Navarrette | Bowen, P.C. | Family Law Attorneys | Denton, TX