How to organize evidence for a divorce (dissolution)
Quick answer
Organizing evidence for a California divorce (dissolution) means gathering records across the 6 factual topics it involves and arranging them as a dated chronology with an exhibit index. Those topics are assets, debts, income, expenses, property, and communications. These source documents back the financial-disclosure and petition forms (FL-100, FL-110, FL-142). This is organizing your evidence, not legal advice.
Last updated: September 2026
Organize the timeline and the financial-disclosure source documents for a dissolution. Preliminary financial disclosures (FL-142 / FL-150) are required in every case before judgment.
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Evidence worth gathering
These are the factual topics commonly relevant to this kind of matter. For each, gather whatever you have that records it, and note anything you don't. This is about organizing records, not deciding what any of it legally means.
- AssetsStatements and titles that show what exists and whose name is on it.
- DebtsLoan, card, and account statements that show balances and dates.
- IncomePay stubs, tax returns, and any income statements.
- ExpensesBills and receipts that show regular and one-time costs.
- Property / accountsDeeds, titles, and account statements for property and accounts.
- Relevant communicationsTexts, emails, and call logs. Keep the full thread so context is clear.
How to organize your evidence
The process is the same whatever the matter: gather, label, build a chronology, then export. It's about organizing records into a clear file, not deciding what any of it legally means.
Gather everything you have
Collect the records that document your matter: screenshots, texts, emails, PDFs, photos, and any reports or statements. Don't filter yet; gather first.
Label each item and note its date
Give every piece of evidence a clear label and the date it records. ExhibitPack reads images with on-device OCR and pulls a verbatim source quote for each fact.
Build a dated chronology
Put the events in date order, each tied to the record that documents it, and group related records into factual topics. ExhibitPack builds the chronology and an exhibit index automatically.
Review the missing-evidence checklist
Check the list of records commonly relevant to your matter that you don't have yet, so you know what's worth tracking down before you finalize.
Export your packet
Export a clean, source-traceable PDF with the chronology, exhibit index, and declaration support. Take it to an attorney, mediator, or self-help center.
What is in the packet
Six parts, assembled from the evidence you add. Nobody reviews it, and none of it decides what your evidence means, whether a court would accept it, or whether you should file anything.
A dated chronology
Events laid out in order, each tied to the evidence that records it, so anyone can follow what happened and when.
Factual issue clusters
Your evidence grouped by topic (the facts), never by a legal claim, so related records sit together.
An exhibit index
A labeled list of every document with a designation (A, B, C…) and a description of what it is, in a CRC 3.1110-style format. You attach your originals behind the packet in that order.
Source-traceable facts
Every fact carries a verbatim quote from your own evidence, so a reviewer can verify it against the source. Nothing is invented.
A missing-evidence checklist
A plain list of records commonly relevant to your matter that you don't have yet, so you know what's worth gathering.
Declaration support
Your dated facts arranged as numbered, factual paragraphs you (or your attorney) can build a declaration from.
Missing-evidence checklist
Records commonly relevant to this matter that people often don't have yet. Use it as a prompt for what's worth tracking down, not a list of requirements.
- Recent tax returns (2 years)Source documents behind FL-150 income figures.
- Pay stubs / income statementsBack the Income & Expense Declaration (FL-150).
- Account & loan statementsBack the Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142).
Forms this matter commonly uses
General published information about the California Judicial Council forms associated with this kind of matter. ExhibitPack does not select forms for you or advise whether or when to use them. Always verify against your court's current forms and rules.
- FL-100: Petition (Marriage/Domestic Partnership)Opens the case; states the orders requested.
- FL-110: Summons (Family Law)Notifies the respondent; triggers the 30-day response clock and ATROs.
- FL-142: Schedule of Assets and DebtsItemized assets/debts. A primary financial-disclosure source doc.
- FL-150: Income and Expense DeclarationIncome/expense statement; central to support calculations.
Questions, answered
What are financial-disclosure source documents?
They're the underlying records that the financial-disclosure forms (FL-142, FL-150) are built from: tax returns, pay stubs, and account or loan statements. Organizing the source documents first makes the rest easier. ExhibitPack groups them by topic with an exhibit index.
What are FL-142 and FL-150?
FL-142 (Schedule of Assets and Debts) and FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) are California Judicial Council forms used for financial disclosure. This is general published information. ExhibitPack organizes your source records; it does not complete or advise on these forms for you.
What does "source-traceable" mean?
It means every fact in your packet carries a verbatim quote from your own evidence, plus a reference back to the document it came from. Anyone reviewing the packet can check each fact against its source. Nothing is invented or summarized away from what you provided.
What is an exhibit index?
An exhibit index is a labeled list of the documents you're including, each given a designation (A, B, C…) and a short description of what it is. It's how a reader finds a specific piece of evidence quickly. ExhibitPack builds one in a California Rules of Court 3.1110-style format, and the export tells you to attach your original documents behind it in that order.
Is the packet ready to file in court?
No, and ExhibitPack cannot tell you whether it is. It organizes what you already have into a dated chronology and an indexed set, so you, or a lawyer you hire, can work from something ordered instead of a pile. No attorney reviews it. It does not decide what your evidence means, whether a court would accept any of it, or whether you should file anything. Check your court's own rules, and for advice ask a licensed attorney or your court's self-help center.
Do I need an account to organize my evidence?
You need a free account to build your own packet, because building one runs the extraction on our servers. Reading a full sample packet and running the readiness check need no account and no sign-in at all.
Does ExhibitPack give legal advice or tell me what to file?
No. ExhibitPack organizes the evidence you provide into a chronology, issue clusters, and an exhibit index. It does not advise you on your rights, which forms to file, deadlines, or strategy. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney or your court's self-help center.
Is my evidence kept private?
Images are read with on-device OCR, so your evidence isn't shipped off just to be scanned. You can delete your data at any time. See the Privacy page for details.
Ready to organize it?
Add whatever evidence you have and ExhibitPack builds the chronology, exhibit index, and missing-evidence checklist for you. It's free, and you don't need an account to start.