Discovery is the formal exchange of information, and in a contested divorce it is how each side learns what the other actually has. It can include sworn financial affidavits, requests for documents, written questions answered under oath, and depositions. The process is built to prevent surprises and to expose assets or income a spouse might prefer to keep quiet.
Thorough discovery is often what decides a contested case, because an accurate financial record is the foundation for any fair result. A contested divorce attorney in Sanford uses these tools to make sure a client is negotiating from facts rather than assumptions.