4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (2024)

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4 financial steps to prepare your finances for divorce

Going through divorce can be overwhelming and may change many aspects of life, especially finances.

The divorce process rarely follows a straight line, but these steps may help:

Step 1: Get organized and gather key financial documents

To prepare for the legal process, it’s important to gather your own copies of current and past financial statements to gain a full understanding of all the accounts you and your partner hold together, as well as individual accounts.

Some common documents may be related to your:

  • Assets: checking, savings, investment accounts
  • Property: home, land, vehicles
  • Debts: credit cards, lines of credit, mortgages
  • Household expenses: phone, Internet, insurance
  • Retirement accounts: IRAs, 401k plans, pensions

Step 2: Understand what you own and what you owe

Once you’ve gathered your key documents, determine what is owned, owed, and where changes may be necessary. Here are a few things to consider:

  • Determine whether you will retain or close joint or individual accounts.
  • Identify where name or address changes may be needed.
  • Determine if you need to establish any new individual accounts. Note that some accounts may require re-qualification.
  • Review beneficiaries on all accounts for updates that may be needed.
  • Consider changing and securing your passwords and PINs on your individual accounts and cards.

Step 3: Know what bills are due and protect your credit

If you and your spouse share credit accounts, you may also share that debt — no matter who does the buying.

Remember that on-time bill payments make up 35% of your credit score.1 To protect your credit history, if possible, determine who will pay what and closely monitor that progress. Set up account alerts2 to ensure no payments are missed.

It’s also wise to regularly monitor your credit report so you can spot any remaining accounts in your name, as you could be legally responsible for those debts as well.

Credit Close-Up® offers eligible Wells Fargo Online® customers complimentary access to their FICO® Score and credit monitoring alerts as well as personalized tips and insights.

Step 4: Create your go-forward budget

Since your income and expenses will likely change once your divorce is finalized, creating a new budget can help you feel more prepared.

Review current household expenses and identify items that could change such as childcare or insurance premiums that may increase post-divorce and ways to adjust.

If you need more help, our Budget Watch tool helps make it easier to set goals and notifies you when you’re nearing your spending limit.

Featured Tools

My Spending Report Automatically track and sort your spending to streamline your money management. Learn more
My Savings Plan®4 Reach your goals faster by setting up automatic transfers5 and monitoring progress. Learn more
Budget Watch Create a personalized budget to track expenses and help you meet your financial goals. Learn more

Read more on this topic

Once you’re financially prepared for divorce, take further steps to protect your finances. Up next:

4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (5)

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4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (6)

Adjusting your financial plan

Learn how to be flexible when circ*mstances change.

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4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (7)

Where to go for emergency funds

Explore tips to help access funds when you need them the most.

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4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (8)

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Footnote

4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce (2024)

FAQs

4 Steps to Preparing Finances for Divorce? ›

Make sure to document all sources of income and all possible expenses, including child support and/or spousal support. If it looks like you might struggle to cover your ongoing costs, you should look at where you can cut back and save some money, such as cooking meals at home rather than going out to eat.

How to prepare financially to get divorced? ›

How to get your finances ready for divorce
  1. Be wary of well-meaning, but generic, advice. ...
  2. Track expenses — and anticipate future ones. ...
  3. Gather documentation. ...
  4. Prepare for resistance. ...
  5. Refrain from big financial decisions. ...
  6. Be conservative when spending and saving. ...
  7. Know when to get help.
Aug 7, 2024

How to financially prepare to leave husband? ›

How Do I Financially Prepare to Leave My Spouse?
  1. Gather Financial Documentation. ...
  2. Consider Shared Debts and Liabilities. ...
  3. Consider Joint Assets and Their Implications. ...
  4. Consider How You'll Adjust to a Single Income. ...
  5. Estimate Short-Term Living Expenses Post-Separation. ...
  6. Plan for Long-term Ongoing Expenses.
Jul 10, 2024

How do you silently prepare for a divorce? ›

How Do I Prepare for a Divorce Without My Spouse Finding Out?
  1. 7 Strategic Steps to Prepare. ...
  2. Assess Your Situation. ...
  3. Gather Important Documents. ...
  4. Establish Personal Privacy. ...
  5. Create a Financial Plan. ...
  6. Seek Professional Assistance. ...
  7. Develop a Support Network. ...
  8. Prepare for the Legal Process.

How do divorced dads survive financially? ›

Make sure to document all sources of income and all possible expenses, including child support and/or spousal support. If it looks like you might struggle to cover your ongoing costs, you should look at where you can cut back and save some money, such as cooking meals at home rather than going out to eat.

How do I protect myself financially in a divorce? ›

How Do I Protect Myself Financially From My Spouse During a...
  1. Create a Financial Plan for Your Divorce. ...
  2. Open Your Own Bank Account. ...
  3. Separate Your Debt. ...
  4. Monitor Your Credit Score. ...
  5. Take an Inventory of Your Assets. ...
  6. Review Your Retirement Accounts. ...
  7. Consider Mediation Before Litigation. ...
  8. Popular Family Law Articles.
Aug 9, 2023

How do I financially separate from my wife? ›

How To Separate Finances Before Your Divorce
  1. Separate Your Bank Accounts and Credit Cards.
  2. Separate Your Non-Marital Assets.
  3. Divide Individual Debt.
  4. Educate yourself.
  5. Gather documentation. Keep records.
  6. Consult a professional. Make it legal.

How does a housewife prepare for divorce? ›

Inventory All Marital and Non-Marital Property

A woman preparing for divorce should make a detailed list of all separate property she has sole ownership over and its value, as well as joint property she wants to get a share of or take ownership of during the asset division process.

What to do when you want to leave your husband but have no money? ›

Start saving. Start doing activities to earn money, as discussed in step two. Plan to spend time on building your support network and developing knowledge about divorce and financial assistance. When you are close to saving up enough to move into a new home, start looking for properties to rent.

What is the walkaway wife syndrome? ›

So, what exactly is walkaway wife syndrome? In essence, it refers to wives who become so emotionally disconnected and dissatisfied with their marriages that they eventually decide to leave—often after years of built-up resentment. This isn't your typical cold feet or mid-life crisis.

What not to do when asking for a divorce? ›

16 Things Not To Do During Divorce
  1. Never hide facts from your attorney. ...
  2. Don't get pregnant. ...
  3. Don't bring your new boyfriend/girlfriend around the children prior to the divorce being final. ...
  4. Don't bring your new boyfriend or girlfriend to court. ...
  5. Don't post stupid comments on Facebook or any other social media site.

What should a man do before divorce? ›

How Men Should Prepare for Divorce
  • Know What's Happening. Unfortunately, a lot of men just get swept away in the rapids when it comes to getting divorced. ...
  • Make Sure Your Finances Are Organized. ...
  • Protect Your Privacy. ...
  • Stay Organized. ...
  • Take Care of Yourself. ...
  • Find Some Support. ...
  • Be Willing to Negotiate. ...
  • Get in Touch with an Attorney.

Who suffers most in divorce financially? ›

Despite their best efforts to arrive at an equitable agreement, financial disparities between spouses after divorce are a reality for some couples. There is a good body of research on the subject that shows women bear the heaviest financial burden when a couple divorces.

What do men lose during a divorce? ›

Men Often Experience a Loss of Identity

They form a critical part of our lives. But when a divorce happens, men lose most of it – the spouse, the children, the familial bond, and the happiness. The custody of the children is often given to the mother, while the father only gets the visitation rights.

Who is better off financially after divorce? ›

We're still living in a world where men make more than women, and 69% of husbands make more than their wives. So when a couple gets divorced, the woman's household income drops more than the man's. Finally, data actually shows that women are more negatively affected after a divorce, both financially and emotionally.

Is it financially smart to get divorced? ›

To put it simply, regardless of your financial position during a marriage, you'll likely have less money coming into your household after a divorce, and you may not be able to afford all the things you used to when you were married.

How to financially prepare for a breakup? ›

How to financially prepare for a breakup
  1. Rename your beneficiaries. If you have a retirement savings plan, a will, life or health insurance, or a pension, you will need to check to see if your partner is listed as a beneficiary. ...
  2. Monitor joint accounts. ...
  3. Update your budget. ...
  4. Check your credit score. ...
  5. Plan for the future.

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