Money issues are at the heart of almost every divorce, but some people fail to think about what their finances will look like when the dust settles. Anyone going through or contemplating a divorce would do well to take extra care with their current finances as well as financial planning, but women in particular may be at a higher risk of money problems after divorce.
One possible reason for this is that many women still put their careers on hold to stay home with the children. Even if they work out of the home part-time, they may pass up promotions or additional work responsibilities if they are part of a two-income household. However, once divorce happens, it can make it very difficult to get right back into the full-time workforce. There’s also research to suggest that divorced women earn less overall than divorced men.
Financial planners recommend that women going through a divorce get as much information as possible about the family’s financial status. This means finding out how much money was coming into the house and how much was going out. You may have to get bank statements from any joint accounts if you have not been involved in the day-to-day financial planning. It’s also important to have a full inventory of the marital assets.
Once these steps have been taken, bringing this information to a family law attorney can help you better understand what your finances may look like after divorce. If child support or alimony are going to be a factor, your attorney may be able to provide you with an estimate of what those payments may be so you can begin planning for your financial future.
Source: CBS Los Angeles, “How To Survive Divorce With Your Finances Intact,” Nov. 19, 2015