The comparative disclosure view in Divorcepath provides a side-by-side comparison of both parties' financial information. This view helps you quickly identify discrepancies, spot missing documents, and prepare for negotiations or court proceedings.
Accessing the Comparative Disclosure View
To access the comparative disclosure page:
- Open the client file and navigate to the Disclosure tab.
- Click on Comparative Disclosure to open the side-by-side comparison view.
The comparative view displays financial information from both parties in parallel columns, making it straightforward to compare figures and identify areas that require further attention.
Comparing Financial Information
The comparative disclosure view organizes financial information into key categories:
- Income — employment income, self-employment income, investment income, government benefits, and other sources of income for both parties.
- Expenses — monthly and annual expenses reported by each party, including housing, transportation, food, and other living costs.
- Assets — real property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, pensions, and other assets held by each party.
- Liabilities — mortgages, loans, credit card balances, lines of credit, and other debts owed by each party.
Each category displays the corresponding values from both parties, allowing you to compare amounts and identify where the parties agree or differ.
Identifying Discrepancies
The comparative view highlights areas where the parties' financial information does not align. This can include:
- Conflicting values — where both parties have reported different amounts for the same item (e.g., differing income figures or asset valuations).
- Unilateral entries — items reported by one party but not the other, which may indicate undisclosed assets or liabilities.
- Significant gaps — large differences in reported income, expenses, or net worth that warrant further investigation.
Reviewing these discrepancies helps you focus your efforts on the areas that are most likely to be contested or that require additional disclosure.
Missing Document Detection
The comparative disclosure view also identifies documents that have been requested but not yet received. Missing documents are flagged so you can quickly see which items remain outstanding. This is particularly useful for:
- Preparing a list of outstanding disclosure items for follow-up correspondence.
- Identifying gaps in the other party's disclosure that may need to be addressed before proceeding.
- Documenting non-compliance for court applications if necessary.
Using the Comparison for Negotiations and Court
The comparative disclosure view is a valuable tool when preparing for negotiations or court appearances. You can use it to:
- Prepare for mediation or settlement conferences — review the comparison to understand where the parties agree and where disputes exist, so you can focus discussions on the contested issues.
- Identify issues for trial — use the discrepancies identified in the comparison to determine which financial issues may need to be resolved at trial.
- Support court applications — reference the comparative disclosure when bringing motions for further disclosure or seeking adverse inferences based on incomplete production.
- Inform support calculations — ensure that the financial data used in support calculations is complete and accurate by cross-referencing both parties' disclosures.
