The Probate and Family Court has released a new informational pamphlet which provides detailed instructions for completion of the short form Financial Statement. Each party must file a Financial Statement at least once during any divorce, paternity, separate support or other case involving child support, alimony, division of assets or other financial matters. Parties with incomes of up to $75,000.00 per year must file a short form. The long form Financial Statement is reserved for those individuals with income over $75,000.00.

          The Financial Statement, which reports the party's income, expenses, assets and liabilities, is widely cited as the most important document filed in a domestic relations case. The Court uses the financial information to make orders for child support, alimony and division of assets. Chief Justice Dunphy said "It is extremely important that judges have accurate financial information from parties to domestic relations cases. The judges rely on this information to make important, lasting decisions which will affect the future of the parties and their children. Court staff, volunteer Lawyers for the Day and attorneys make outstanding efforts every day to inform litigants about the importance of the Financial Statement and this new pamphlet will assist litigants with completing the form more completely and accurately. We are grateful to the Department of Revenue for its contribution to the printing costs of the pamphlet".

          The information in the pamphlet will be helpful to both represented and unrepresented litigants. Attorneys are encouraged to copy the instructions and make them available to their clients. As with all the uniform pamphlets produced by the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court, the instructions for the Financial Statement contain prominent language warning readers that probate and family law matters involve complex and valuable legal rights and that they should speak with an attorney before filing any court papers.

          The other informational pamphlets produced by the Administrative Office include "Looking for Legal Assistance?", "Before Asking for Help...", and "Before Going into Court..." (which are also available in Spanish and Portugese) and several instructional pamphlets for the forms required to petition for appointment as guardian of a minor. All pamphlets are available at the Registries of Probate and Probation Offices of the fourteen Divisions of the Probate and Family Court.