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Pre-consultation checklist for complex estates.

Use this list to see what records exist before you speak with Attorney Liken. You do not need everything for a first call. Knowing what exists, and where it is kept, makes the first conversation far more useful.

Boulder.law · The Longmont Law Firm, LLC · Confidential pre-consultation checklist. General information, not legal advice.

You and your timeline

• Date of marriage, and date of separation if you have separated
• Children: names, ages, schools and current parenting arrangement
• Where each spouse has lived for the past several months
• Any existing court case, protection order or agreement between you
• Your goals: what matters most to you, and what you need soon

Income and tax returns

• Personal federal and state tax returns, with all schedules, for recent years
• W-2, 1099 and K-1 forms
• Recent pay stubs, bonus letters and commission statements
• Any gift tax returns filed by either spouse

Business entities

• List of every company, partnership, LLC or practice either spouse owns any part of
• Operating, partnership, shareholder and buy-sell agreements
• Business tax returns and financial statements
• Any prior valuation, appraisal or offer to buy
• Loans to or from the business and personal guarantees

Trusts

• Trust agreements where either spouse is a grantor, trustee or beneficiary
• Recent trust statements and distribution history
• Who created each trust, when, and with whose money

Retirement accounts

• 401(k), 403(b), 457 and IRA statements, including the statement nearest the date of marriage
• Pension plan documents and benefit statements
• Any loans or withdrawals taken from retirement accounts

Deferred compensation

• Nonqualified deferred compensation plan documents and elections
• Account statements and payout schedules
• Retention, change-of-control or severance agreements

Equity awards

• Equity plan documents and every grant agreement (options, RSUs, restricted stock, performance shares)
• Vesting schedules and equity-portal or brokerage statements
• Exercise, sale and tax withholding history
• Offer letters explaining why each award was granted

Real estate

• Deeds and closing statements for each property, including mountain and out-of-state homes
• Mortgage, HELOC and loan statements
• Rental leases, income and expense records
• Any recent appraisal or broker opinion

Bank and investment accounts

• Checking, savings and money market statements
• Brokerage and managed investment account statements
• Accounts held in a child's name or for a child's education
• Statements showing account balances near the date of marriage, for premarital funds

Cryptocurrency and digital assets

• Exchange account statements and transaction history
• List of self-custody wallets (addresses only, never private keys or seed phrases)
• Records of purchases, transfers and sales for tax reporting
• Other digital assets, such as tokens, NFTs or online business accounts

Prenuptial and marital agreements

• Signed premarital or marital agreement, with all schedules and amendments
• Financial disclosures exchanged when the agreement was signed
• Names of the lawyers, if any, who advised each spouse at signing

Debts and insurance

• Credit card, line of credit and personal loan statements
• Life, disability, health, umbrella and property insurance policies
• Tax debts, judgments or pending claims

Gifts and inheritances

• Records of any inheritance or gift received by either spouse, and where the money went
• Account records that trace separate funds over time

Questions to bring

• What are my likely separate and marital assets?
• Which assets need an expert valuation?
• What should I do, and not do, with joint accounts while the case is pending?
• How can sensitive financial records be kept confidential?
• What will the process and fees look like for a matter like mine?

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