Divorce can be complicated and frustrating. Because of this, it's normal for a person to want to just fill out the paperwork as quickly as possible and just get the entire process of divorce over and done with. However, if a person rushes too much and doesn't put the time into properly filling out all assets, liabilities and expenses, one spouse can find themselves at an unfair disadvantage when it comes to the divorce settlement.

When filing for a divorce, spouses fill out a financial affidavit of some sort. Sometimes, when these are being filled out people tend to either estimate or guess at the information. Often these inaccuracies are due to either not knowing how to find the information that is needed, or not even having access to that information.

However, guessing is not the answer. Aside from the fact that you do sign a statement attesting under penalty of perjury that the information is correct, this information can also play a rather large in the financial aspects of your divorce, like alimony.

This is why it's important to fill out what is referred to as a lifestyle analysis. This analysis includes all information related to what your standard of living was during the marriage. Basically, it is a compilation of information related to your day-to-day expenses as a couple in the marriage, to how each spouse individually spent money.

And while this analysis does paint a complete financial picture for the judge to see, it can also be a valuable tool if your ex-spouse is attempting to hide any money.

For example, one woman was going through a divorce, but during her 18 years of marriage, her husband was the one in charge of the finances. Luckily, she decided to have a financial analysis completed, which is when it was discovered that over time her husband had been putting money into an offshore account. Now there was about $3 million in that account.

Since this was discovered -- and her husband did not at first disclose these assets -- she went into court having the upper hand, and ended up receiving around 60 percent of the couple's marital assets. This included that $3 million too.

Of course, this is just one example, and an analysis of the finances will not always turn up hidden assets. However, it does ensure that a divorce settlement is fair and based on all the couple's financial information.

Source: Forbes, "Why a Lifestyle Analysis Is So Critically Important For Divorcing Women," Jeff Landers, Feb. 14, 2012