The 25 Photos to Take Before Moving Out During Divorce

If you may move out—or your spouse may—do not begin by cataloging every fork and paperback. Begin by creating a reliable visual record of the home while you still have ordinary access.

Twenty-five deliberate photos can cover the rooms, storage areas, and higher-risk property most likely to matter later. They will not replace financial disclosures, professional appraisals, or advice from your attorney. They will give you a dated starting point that is much harder to reconstruct after something moves or disappears.

Before taking the first photo

Use your phone’s normal camera. Keep the original files, avoid filters, and do not crop away surrounding context. Photograph only places and property you may lawfully access. If you are unsure, ask your attorney before entering a space, accessing an account, or recording another person.

For each room, take one wide photograph before taking close-ups. The wide image establishes location and context; close-ups preserve details such as condition, model numbers, and serial numbers.

The 25-photo plan

Living and shared spaces

1. Living room from the main entrance.
2. Living room from the opposite corner.
3. Television, audio equipment, game systems, and visible model labels.
4. Dining room, including furniture, art, china cabinets, and serving pieces.
5. Home office, including computers, monitors, printers, and office furniture.

Bedrooms and personal property

6. Primary bedroom from the doorway.
7. Dressers, nightstands, and visible electronics.
8. Primary closet from far enough back to show its contents.
9. Jewelry, watches, or collections you can lawfully access.
10. Other bedrooms, including their furniture and electronics.

Kitchen, laundry, and appliances

11. Kitchen from one corner.
12. Kitchen from the opposite corner.
13. Major appliances and visible model or serial labels.
14. Small appliances, cookware, and higher-value kitchen equipment.
15. Washer, dryer, freezer, and utility-room equipment.

Garage, basement, and storage

16. Garage from the entrance.
17. Tool storage, power tools, lawn equipment, and workbenches.
18. Basement or finished recreation space.
19. Mechanical or storage room.
20. Attic, shed, or off-site storage contents you can access.

Items that need their own evidence

21. Artwork, antiques, and collectibles.
22. Bicycles, sporting equipment, musical instruments, and hobby gear.
23. Firearms or other regulated property, following all applicable safety and access rules.
24. Existing damage, unusual wear, or disputed condition.
25. Receipts, appraisals, certificates, or serial-number plates for significant items.

If one category does not apply, use that photo for a second angle of a crowded room or a close-up of something valuable.

What to record beside the photos

A useful inventory needs more than an image. For significant items, record:

• A plain-language item name.
• The room and current location.
• Make, model, and serial number when visible.
• Current condition.
• Who currently possesses it.
• Whether ownership is shared, claimed, or disputed.
• Any receipt, appraisal, inheritance, or gift information.
• A working fair-market value and the source used to estimate it.

Do not present an automated estimate as a professional appraisal. Ordinary furniture and appliances can often start with comparable used-market prices. Jewelry, art, antiques, firearms, and unusual collections may require a qualified appraiser.

Turn the photos into something usable

A camera roll is evidence, but it is not yet a working inventory. Rename or organize the files, connect each image to the items it shows, and keep a spreadsheet that an attorney or mediator can sort.

HalfYourStuff performs that organizational step: upload the room photos, review the identified items and working values, add ownership or dispute notes, and export the result as PDF and Excel files. See a finished report before creating an account.

Do not wait for the perfect inventory

The strongest record is usually the one created before access changes. Start with the wide room photographs today. Add close-ups, receipts, and corrections afterward. A clear 25-photo baseline is more useful than a perfect system you never begin.

This guide is a documentation aid, not legal advice. Your attorney can tell you what evidence matters in your jurisdiction and how to handle disputed access or ownership safely.