The more property you own, the more assets you have acquired, the more liabilities you have agreed to and the more interests you make all mean a more complex property division agreement. A high asset divorce certainly requires the assistance of an experienced divorce attorney.

Finding the right attorney is always the first step. However, there are a few things that you can do to prepare. In order to end the marriage with a settlement that is not only what you want but one that will protect your interests into the future, your attorney needs to be able to see the whole picture.

Your attorney needs access to the complete picture of your income, assets and liabilities. Gathering certain documents can help make the process go much smoother. So what documents do you need to collect?

Too much preparation is never an issue, so try to find documentation such as tax records, savings and checking account records, insurance policies, investment documentation, retirement plans, estate planning documents, birth and marriage certificates, records you have kept of large gifts you and your spouse received, any business ownership agreements and, of course, any prenuptial agreement that may exist.

Gathering documentation is not the only preparation that will help. You can also take the time to think about what you want out of the divorce and where you picture yourself in three, five or 10 years. Think about whether you will want to continue a relationship with your ex through a business partnership, whether you want to continue to own your home and so much more. Making the decision to divorce is the first step, preparing for divorce is the second.

Source: The Huffington Post, "We're Getting A Divorce, Now What?" Linda Descano, Feb. 1, 2012