DIVORCE INTERVIEW CHECKLIST
Note: This questionnaire should be considered
as a starting point.
.
Client
D.O.B.
Address
SSN: Employed:
.
.
Client
D.O.B.
Address
SSN: Employed:
.
PENDING LITIGATION
Has either spouse previously filed for divorce,
separate maintenance, domestic abuse order of protection
or annulment from the other? If
so, has the action been dismissed? .
Information about previous actions: .
.
JURISDICTION (PARTIES)
How long has client resided in Arkansas? County?
.
Where does spouse reside? .
When and where were the parties married? .
When did the parties separate? I.e., Last date
of cohabitation. .
Is spouse military? (If so, check service rules under
Soldiers and Sailor Relief Act. Also, see forms 11
through 13.) .
JURISDICTION AND CUSTODY/VISITATION INFORMATION
(CHILDREN)
Children born of marriage (also indicate if any
children were born of the parties prior to the marriage
who need paternity established):
Name
D.O.B.
Physical Custody Now With
.
.
Who should have custody? (A.C.A.
9-13-209(a) requires parties in a custody proceeding to
attach affidavit to initial pleading, giving the present
address of the children, places they have lived within
the last 5 years, and names and present addresses of
persons with whom the children lived during that
period.)
How long have children resided in Arkansas? .
In what other states have the children
resided? Dates? .
How long did the child reside in the other state(s)?
.
Did the child have significant connections to the
other state so that important records or witnesses are
located in the other state (e.g. school, medical, child
abuse or neglect records or critical witnesses which
could bear on a custody decision)? .
(If applicable): How long has the other parent
resided in another state, and have children ever resided
in the state where the other parent currently resides?
Has any petition pertaining to this child’s custody
been filed in any other state already? If so, what
state and how recently? What is the statue
of that case? .
.
Is client / spouse pregnant (whichever
applicable)? Who is the father of the expected
child? (Court
may not grant decree until after child is born.)
What is the spouse’s income? .
PROPERTY RIGHTS AND DEBT INFORMATION
If the parties, either jointly or individually, own
an interest in any real property, complete the
following:
Description
Mortgage holder
Equity / Balance owed
.
.
Personal property:
Description
Lien
or security interest holder Equity
/ Balance owed
.
.
.
.
.
Other outstanding debts:
To Whom Owed
What Debt Was For
Amount
.
.
Does either party expect a federal or state income
tax refund? Amount(s) .
Is either entitled to, or have an interest in:
Pension ( ) ;
Retirement Fund
( ) ; Life
insurance or Annuity
( ) ; IRA
( )
Is either party currently pursuing compensation
for: Injury
( ) ; Workers
Compensation ( ) ;
Other ( ) .
Has either party been or currently being sued or in
bankruptcy proceedings? .
Give details. .
GROUNDS (See A.C.A. 9-12-301)
General Indignities, Non-support, Desertion (one
year), Eighteen month separation, Extreme cruelty,
Habitual drunkenness, Felony conviction, Adultery)
(Have client describe what happened). .
.
.
SPOUSE
Will spouse contest (as applicable) grounds?
Custody? Visitation? Child support?
Alimony? Property? Other? .
Has spouse ever committed or threatened acts of
violence or acts of harassment upon client? .
Does client anticipate violence or harassment after
action is filed? If so, describe fully.
.
FORMER NAME
Does client desire to have former last name
restored? If
so, what was the name? .
ALIMONY
Will client seek alimony ? Reasons.
.
WITNESS
Who will testify to residency and separation?
(Name, address, phone)
.
If contested, who will corroborate grounds?
(Name, address, phone)
.
ADVERSE FACTS – OR ALLEGATIONS THAT MIGHT BE MADE
– IF MATTERS ARE CONTESTED:
e.g., spouse’s alleged or real grounds; any
criminal record; reports of abuse or neglect; or any
other facts that might be alleged against client. .
.
.
.
.
