Financial Considerations Before You Divorce

The following financial considerations are important, as divorce and credit go hand in hand. How you proceed now can affect you financial standing in the future. 

By Tracy Achen, Divorce Transition Coach

It is vital to make sure that all payments for the mortgage, rent, utilities, loans, and credit cards are made on time. Because delinquent accounts can severely affect your credit in the future, call all accounts and request to be notified of any missed payments.

You may also want to freeze or close joint credit accounts. Or better yet, ask the creditor to convert them to individual accounts in the name of the person who will ultimately be responsible for the debt. Making account changes before the divorce is finalized saves a lot of headaches.

Dividing Marital Assets

The biggest financial considerations center on dividing the assets. Because not all assets are created equal, you need solid information when deciding how to split everything. Not understanding the consequences of a proposed settlement until after the divorce is finalized can be financially and emotionally devastating!

To make sure that you get what you deserve, check out "DIVORCE: Think Financially, Not Emotionally" (Ad - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). This book explains the different aspects of property division in cases of divorce or separation. By reading through the book, you can understand what rights you and your husband each have under the laws of your state, given the specific circumstances of your situation. It also points out how the assets would probably be divided if your case goes to court, versus a settlement arising from negotiations.

Your Credit Standing

Another very important financial consideration during your divorce is to find out what your credit rating is. You should get a credit report now to determine if there are any blemishes that will hinder your future ability to borrow money. If there are mistakes on your credit file, or if a reported debt has been paid off, contact the reporting agency to rectify the situation. 

To monitor your credit, one service I like is Credit Karma. They offer you access to your credit score without having to sign up for a membership or charging anything to your credit card. You'll also be able to use their credit score simulator to find out how various actions will affect your score.

If you have a history of irregular payments on outstanding debts, you should contact the individual companies to see if they will lower the payments. Once you have made regular payments for six months, they should remove the blemish from your report.

Establishing Your Own Credit

It's a good idea to establish credit in your own name before getting divorced, as it can be much harder to do so afterward. When applying for a card, keep in mind the varying interest rates, as a lower interest rate equates to lower monthly payments. Also be aware of whether the interest rate is variable or fixed. A teaser rate on a variable rate card may be enticing, but can eat your lunch when the introductory rate is over, and the rate then soars to over 20%. With this in mind, try to choose a card with a low fixed rate if at all possible.

Set Up Your Own Bank Accounts

Another financial consideration is to establish your own bank account. If your paycheck is automatically deposited to a joint account, have it switched to an individual account in your name only. You may also want to take your name off joint accounts, since you can be held liable if your spouse over-draws on that account. 

If it seems likely your spouse will clean out all the accounts, take your half and put it in your own account. If he is a signer on the children’s accounts, you also need to have his name removed, or have the money transferred to a different account. You can also read more about Divorce & Bank Accounts to find out how these assets are divided.

Filing Your Taxes

If the children are living with you during your separation, you can file your taxes separately as "Head of Household". You'll also want to determine who gets to claim the children as dependents during your legal separation. Keep this deduction if at all possible; it can mean money in your pocket with the earned income credit. If you are claiming the children as your dependents, make sure that your husband doesn’t also try to claim them. The last thing you need is an IRS audit.

Insurance Coverage

Your insurance coverage also needs to reflect your change in status. If both names are on a policy and your spouse has an uncovered liability, you can be held responsible. The best move is to take your husband's name off the policy, or get your own policy (and take your name off his). If you don't already have an insurance provider, you can shop for the best insurance rates online.  

Updated November 22, 2022

For information more information about financial considerations during divorce, continue with...

• Protecting Assets in a Divorce 
• Protecting Your Post-Divorce Credit 
• Divorce and Credit Card Debt 
• Divorce Financial Planning 
• Financially Prepare for a Divorce 
  
  

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