Divorce is a difficult and stressful process that can affect many aspects of your life, including your finances. If you are going through a divorce, you may be wondering how to se,parate your finances from your spouse and protect your assets, income, and credit rating. Here are some steps you can take to make the process easier and smoother.
1. Gather all your financial documents. You will need to have a clear picture of your income, expenses, assets, debts, and liabilities. You will also need to have copies of your tax returns, bank statements, credit card statements, mortgage statements, loan agreements, retirement accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, and any other relevant documents. These documents will help you and your spouse negotiate a fair and equitable division of your marital property and debts.
2. Open separate bank accounts. As soon as you decide to get divorced, you should open separate bank accounts for yourself and stop using any joint accounts you have with your spouse. This will prevent your spouse from accessing your money or spending it without your consent. It will also help you establish your own financial independence and credit history.
3. Close or freeze joint credit cards. If you have any joint credit cards with your spouse, you should either close them or freeze them to prevent any further charges. You should also notify the credit card companies of your divorce and request that they send you separate statements for each account. This will help you avoid being responsible for any debts that your spouse may incur after the separation.
4. Get a copy of your credit report. Getting a copy of your credit report is an important step to monitor and improve your financial health. By knowing what is in your credit report, you can take actions to build or maintain a good credit history and score, which can help you achieve your financial goals. A credit report will help you identify any accounts that are combined with your spouse as well as any mistakes in your credit history. You are entitled to get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus once every 12 months. You can request your free credit reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
4. Update your beneficiaries and estate plan. You should review your beneficiary designations for your retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and any other accounts that have a beneficiary. You may want to change them to someone other than your spouse, such as your children or a trusted relative or friend. You should also update your will, trust, power of attorney, health care proxy, and any other estate planning documents to reflect your wishes and preferences.
5. Seek professional help. Divorce can be complicated and confusing, especially when it comes to financial matters. You may benefit from hiring a lawyer, a financial planner, an accountant, or a mediator to help you navigate the process and protect your interests. They can advise you on the best way to separate your finances from your spouse and ensure that you receive a fair settlement.
