Before beginning to negotiate a financial settlement on divorce, it is essential to exchange full financial information and documents with your husband / wife.  This is normally done by your respective solicitors putting all the papers in the post simultaneously on the same day.

"But I know everything about my husband's / wife's financial situation"  Well, possibly, but there may be things that you didn't know about.  I frequently come across cases where something genuinely unexpected emerges from the disclosure process.  Don't take the risk!   

Remember:
  1. Disclosure
  2. Negotiation
  3. Settlement

 ....in that order.