What it is: the phase of a case where both parties exchange financial information — bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, and other documents — so each side and the court see the whole financial picture.
Why it matters: discovery is mandatory, and incomplete or inaccurate disclosure can damage your credibility in court. Keeping orderly financial records from early on saves time, fees, and stress.
What it includes: document requests, written questions (interrogatories), requests to admit facts, and sworn oral testimony (depositions). In a contested divorce, discovery is how hidden income, secret accounts, or undervalued businesses get found.
Watch out for: hiding assets in discovery is perjury-level serious and can unravel a settlement later. Full, organized disclosure up front is cheaper and safer than getting caught cleaning it up after.
