Divorce can be one of the toughest periods in a person’s life and to make it worse, financially, it can be even more devastating. Paying divorce fees, splitting assets and constant negotiating comes with filing for divorce, but what should you do financially after you file for divorce? There are a set of steps to take to establish yourself and help you avoid paying anything extra in the future.
Use Professionals from the Beginning
Hopefully, the divorce is mutual and goes through smoothly, but using professionals from the beginning is advised in case of any disagreements. If a lawyer only comes into the equation midway through the procedure it can turn into a “he said/she said” scenario, where there isn’t evidence to back up either person and the use of dispute resolution lawyers might be needed and costs eventually increase to an unnecessary amount.
Gather All Important Documents
During a divorce, documents can be an important asset to use as evidence and keep track of. Bank & credit card statements, tax returns, retirement accounts and appraisals for valuables are all vital to being completely up front. In some cases, spouses who intend on filing for divorce in the future try to funnel money out of the accounts for their own financial gain. Regardless of if your filing or they are, having a copy of all the documents protects you from any allegations during the procedure.
Review Any Unknown Finances
Pulling copies of credit reports should be reviewed, making sure you were aware of every loan in the history. If anything is flagged, you can use these reports to your advantage as you might not be liable to split any unknown debt.
Apply for a Personal Credit Card
This will help your long-term future, it will create a credit score for yourself rather than as a married couple. Doing it before the divorce is advised as your credit score will take a dip after the divorce. having a good credit score can be really helpful if you’re looking to buy a home, car or just need extra financial aid to get back on your feet.
Create a Personal Budget
Working out your personal income and outgoings will help you evaluate your ability to either help your spouse or if you’ll require aid from them. Don’t assume that your current outgoings will be split in half and that’s the new number, they might spend more money than you daily or prefer more luxuries which is no longer your responsibility to contribute. Hopefully, your standard of living will stay the same, but its best to ensure everything is viable and affordable rather than making assumptions.
Don’t Commit to Any Major Financial Decisions
Buying a new home, car or even trying to pay off debts is never a good start. Until the divorce is finalised, nothing is set in stone and you might be committing to something that isn’t viable in the near future which could impact you financially even more.
After the Divorce is Finalised
Reviewing your mortgage and account beneficiaries is an important step after the divorce, making sure that your personal assets are going to the right people rather than your ex-partner. If anything was to happen to you and the paperwork hasn’t been updated, even if the banks and lawyers are aware that they are now an ex it’s likely that your assets will still move over to them. Also, updating your power of attorney, health insurance and hiring will writing solicitors Manchester will make any future decisions easier for your family.
Most issues you need to address aren’t pleasant and the ordeal is usually a negative experience. However, for you to get past it, addressing it correctly and not rushing any section is key. Using divorce solicitors from the beginning, asking your lawyer to review any offers and making mature decisions are all key to making the experience positive financially in the long run.
