Divorce and Money

Divorce and money issues are ultimately tied together.  Not only will you have to split the assets and debts during the divorce, but you will have to figure out how to survive financially afterwards.  Below are the various issues that you should take into consideration when you are going through a divorce.

Topics:
 

Preparing Yourself Financially For Divorce
Who Gets The House / Dividing Equity / Mortgages
Settlement Agreements and Other Assets
Investments, Retirement, and Social Security Benefits
Alimony Provisions
Protecting Your Credit
Dividing Debts and Debt Responsibility
Tax Issues Affected By Divorce
Financial Issues After Divorce

Things To Keep In Mind

• Preparing For A Divorce - Things to do before you actually start a divorce.
• Financially Prepare For A Divorce - How budgeting can help.
• Budgeting Income and Expenses During Divorce will not only help you establish the standard of living, but also financially prepare you for life after your divorce.
• Can You Afford Divorce in Hard Times? - What factors you need to consider when the economy is really tight.
• What if I can't afford a divorce? - Alternatives you may not have thought about.
• Financial Considerations gives an over-view of how divorce can affect you financially, and what you should do before getting a divorce.
• Positive Steps to Prepare for Divorce - using a financial planner to help you make sense of the financial aspects.
• Minimizing The Cost of Divorce - different approaches to save money.
• Health Insurance After Divorce - making sure that you are covered before you get a divorce.
• Divorce And Health Insurance - Different options to make sure that your family is covered.
• Divorce - Life Insurance Considerations on the value of the policy and how to handle beneficiary designations.
• Life Insurance Issues - Advice from the legal expert.
• Leaving the Marital Home - What are your obligations.
• Pet Custody - Determining who gets the pets in a divorce?
• Can I file a joint tax return if we're not divorced yet?
• Return to divorce and money topics

The Marital Home

• Should You Keep the House? - What to take into account when deciding.
• Who Gets The House In Divorce - Things to consider.
• The Marital Home - Who gets the house, how the mortgage is handled, and splitting the equity.
• Dividing Home Equity in Divorce - Understanding your various options.
• Divorce and Quitclaim Deeds - Protecting your interests in the home.
• Divorce Mortgage Options - What to do about your home mortgage.
• Divorce and Mortgage Questions - Answers from the experts.
• Refinancing The Marital Home - Issues that should be considered.
• Capital Gains Tax In Divorce Settlements
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Dividing Marital Assets

• Divorce Considerations - What to think about when you split up.
• Who gets what in a divorce?
• Divorce Settlement Considerations gives an in depth look at seven costly mistakes to avoid.  
• Divorce Settlement Negotiation Strategies and what to consider.
• Getting a Fair Divorce Settlement - The importance of looking ahead.
• Divorce Settlement Questions - Understanding your settlement.
• Divorce Property Issues - Frequently Asked Questions.
• Dissipated Marital Assets - How to handle missing assets.
• Protecting Assets in a Divorce if your spouse is prone to hiding marital assets.
• The Bifurcated Divorce -Ending the marital status while other settlement decisions are being negotiated.
• Property Bought During Divorce - Is it divisible and how?
• Divorce and Business Assets - What you are entitled to and how it's split.
• Divorce and Business Valuations - Tips to sort it all out.
• Using an ESOP to Settle Divorce - If there isn't enough cash to fully satisfy equitable distribution in your divorce, you might consider forming an ESOP to facilitate a settlement when you have a multi-million dollar business.
• Professional Degrees and Divorce - What is considered.
• Inheritance and Divorce - Whether it is considered a marital asset or not.
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Dividing Investments and Retirement Assets

• Retirement Assets - Types of retirement plans and valuations
• Dividing Retirement - How plans are divided and how to find existing plans.
• Dividing Retirement Assets - Frequently asked questions.
• Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Distribution - The pros and cons of various equitable distribution solutions.
• Divorce 401K settlement - Rolling over your portion.
• Converting IRA to Roth IRA in Divorce - While converting traditional retirement plans to a Roth IRA can be beneficial to many people, there is a unique opportunity that often arises in the year of a divorce.
• Pension and Divorce Evaluations - Is it considered as an asset or income.
• Questions About Profit Sharing Plans and how they are handled in divorce.
• Dividing Hedge Funds in Divorce - Here is what family lawyers should know before dividing hedge fund assets in a divorce.
• Divorce and Social Security Benefits- The effect of the 10 year rule.
• Disability Pay - How it's handled in a military divorce.
• College 529 Plans in Divorce - This article highlights two specific areas regarding 529 plans in divorce - deductibility of losses and using 529 plan assets to fund educational expenses.
• Divorce and Social Security Benefits- The effect of the 10 year rule.
• Disability Pay - How it's handled in a military divorce.
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Alimony Provisions

• Alimony - When it's awarded, what kind, and for how long.
• Spousal Alimony and Support - Information and frequently asked questions.
• Life Insurance Issues - Guaranteeing the payments are made.
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Protecting Your Credit

• Credit - What to think about during and after your divorce.
• Does Divorce Affect Credit Ratings? - Learn how a bad credit rating can make life hard after your divorce.
• Protecting Your Credit During Divorce - Steps that you can take to minimize the damage to your credit score.
• Dividing Debts in Divorce - Protecting yourself when it comes to dividing assets and debts. 
• Rebuilding Your Credit After Divorce - Learn what you can do to improve your credit score.

Dividing Debts

• Debt and Divorce - How debt responsibility is viewed by creditors when two people end their marriage.
• Dividing Debts in Divorce - Protecting yourself when it comes to dividing assets and debts. 
• Debts in divorce - What to consider when dividing debt.
• Divorce and Unsecured Debt Responsibility  
• Secured Loans on Shared Ownership Property
• Spousal Debt Liability - How to protect yourself.
• Divorce and Bankruptcy - Why bankruptcy and divorce sometimes go hand-in-hand and what you may expect if the two happen in your life.
• Divorce and Auto Loan Responsibility - Who is legally responsible.
• Handling Divorce Debt - What happens when your ex doesn't pay.
• Responsibility for Credit Card Debt in Divorce
• Divorce and Credit Card Debt - When you can't make the payments.
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Tax Issues

• Getting A Copy of Tax Return Information for previous years can help uncover hidden assets, give you proof of your spouses income, and reveals retirement accounts. Find out how to get your copy.
• Filing A Joint Tax Return Before The Divorce is Finalized
• Capital Gains Tax in Divorce Settlements
• Child Tax Credits After Divorce  - Find out if you qualify for a child tax credit, child care credit, earned income credits, or any education tax credit.
• Post Divorce Taxes and Claiming the Children - Who gets to claim the child exemption, files as head of household, and takes the Health Savings Account tax deductions. 
• Head of Household Tax Filing Status - discusses who gets to claim this filing status after divorce.
• The Dependent Tax Deduction after Divorce - The rules for claiming the dependent tax deduction after divorce changed in 2008. Find out how these changes affect you.
• Who Gets To Claim the Tax Deduction for Dependents - Answers from the legal expert.
• Return to main topics on divorce and money issues

Financial Issues After Divorce

• Handling Financial Issues After Divorce - Things to take care of after the divorce is finalized.
• Managing Finances After Divorce - Take these steps to get your finances under control so you can get by on one income.
• Health Insurance After Divorce - making sure that you are covered before you get a divorce.
• Reasons People Should Get A Prenuptial Agreement - What to think about before you get remarried.
• Return to divorce and money topics

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