What to Take With You to Mediation
Be prepared for mediation
The following will probably be needed to draft your legal paperwork; bringing them to your first mediation session may save you time later:
Real estate documents. If either of you owns a home or other real property, bring a document that gives a legal description of the property and any notes secured by it. If you aren’t sure, bring all documents received at closing; the mediator can choose what he needs.
Vehicle identification numbers. If you’ll be transferring title to any of your vehicles, bring their vehicle identification numbers with you.
Retirement account information. If you think you may divide your retirement benefits or those of your spouse, bring the most current statement of the account and the booklet that explains the plan and its benefits.
Social Security and driver’s license numbers. Bring these numbers for yourself, your spouse and your children.
Debt information. For any debts that you don’t pay off monthly, bring the name of the creditor, the account number, and the balance owing. This includes credit cards, student loans, vehicle loans and personal loans.
Inventory List. It’s helpful to the mediator to have a list of your assets and debts. Your list can also show how you propose to divide up assets and debts, if you’re ready to make a proposal. If you and your spouse worked together preparing the inventory and agree on values and any part of the division of property and debts, all the better. This inventory can save the mediator a good deal of time in understanding your case. If it’s going to take a lot of time to gather all these documents, you needn’t delay your mediation while you do so. You can always bring the documents in later and the mediator may request additional documents when he knows more about your estate and how you plan to divide it.