Asset & Income Reporting
Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure: My Guide for Long Beach Clients
California law sets firm deadlines for completing the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (PDD). When I represent the petitioner in a case, I make sure the preliminary disclosure goes out within 60 days of filing the petition, as required under Family Code Section 2104(f). When I represent the respondent, I meet that same 60-day window measured from the date the response is filed.
The Four Required Forms
California law requires every party to complete four specific forms. I walk each client through them individually:
The numbers attached to each form correspond to the Judicial Council forms used for financial disclosure, and I pull the current versions directly from the court's website for my clients.
Breaking Down Each Form
Income and Expense Declaration
I use this form to capture a complete statement of income from every source — employment, business, and investments — along with all expenses. I ask clients to attach their last two months of pay stubs, a W-2, or other proof of income. This is the document I rely on to calculate child support and spousal support, and to assess a party's need for, or ability to pay, attorney fees.
Schedule of Assets and Debts
I use this form to list every asset and every debt, whether community or separate property, including anything acquired before the marriage or with separate funds during the marriage. The form calls for specific supporting documentation in each section, and I typically advise clients to use account statements as of the date of separation. There's a column to mark each item as community or separate property — if a client isn't sure yet, I leave it blank rather than guess.
Declaration of Disclosure
On this form, I have clients address any business opportunities that existed during the marriage or domestic partnership up through the date of separation, and explain how they arrived at the values assigned to their assets. I also make sure their last two years of income tax returns are attached.
Declaration Regarding Service
This form serves as proof that the PDD was properly served on the other party. If a divorce or termination of domestic partnership is amicable, this is the only one of the four forms I actually file with the court. If either party files a Request for Order seeking financial relief, I make sure the Income and Expense Declaration is filed as well. When a case goes to trial, I typically submit these disclosure forms and their attachments as evidence.
Why Disclosure Feels Difficult
Financial disclosure is really no different from preparing a summary of your finances for tax season — it requires an honest accounting of income, expenses, assets, and debts. Even so, I see clients struggle with it for a few recurring reasons:
Not knowing the numbers
Many spouses simply weren't the one managing household finances during the marriage. California law requires the managing spouse to provide full disclosure, and I warn clients that incomplete disclosure carries real consequences — a court can award the non-disclosed asset entirely to the other spouse, set aside a judgment, or impose sanctions. If a client wasn't the one handling money, I tell them divorce is also a chance to examine that pattern and decide whether it's one they want to carry into the next chapter of life.
Avoidance out of fear
Some clients put off disclosure because facing their finances is genuinely uncomfortable, especially when money problems contributed to the breakup in the first place. I remind clients that avoiding this step early on only delays a quicker, more amicable resolution — and keeps them locked into the same patterns that may resurface in future relationships.
Turning Disclosure Into an Opportunity
When You Managed the Money
If a client was the spouse who controlled the finances during the marriage, I advise getting the financial picture organized and presented clearly as early as possible — it speeds up settlement discussions on both support and property division. I also make clear that disclosure is the moment to correct course if finances weren't handled honestly during the marriage; hiding or misrepresenting money is a burden that follows a person into their next relationship. In mediation, I've seen this kind of transparency allow spouses to discuss their underlying motivations and fears productively. In litigation, I make sure clients understand exactly what non-disclosure could cost them.
My Approach in Litigation Versus Mediation
Handled the right way, financial disclosure isn't just a procedural step — it's an opportunity for both parties to reach a fairer settlement and start their post-divorce life on solid footing.
Request a Free Legal Consultation
For a free consultation regarding financial disclosure, reach out at (562) 426-6522.