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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Protect Yourself Financially Before You File for Divorce

Divorce often puts people on a shaky financial ground. The prospect of splitting of assets can be scary and fraught with complications. So what can you do to make sure you'll be protected financially when you decide to divorce? Below are some tips to help you prepare.

1) Review your financial documents.
Now is the time to get all of your financial documents together. Firstly, you will need most of these documents when you go to Court anyway. Secondly, it is important to have an up-to-date picture of your financial situation. You should carefully review and duplicate these papers. You should also request a credit check and review the report carefully. You are entitled to a receive a free credit report once a year. If you will be moving to a new home or apartment, this may be the first time you will have to apply for housing using only your credit score. Remember, knowledge is power!

2) Change accounts into your name.
You may have opened joint bank accounts, credit cards, and/or other loans during the course of your marriage. It is wise to open a bank account with you as the sole account holder so that you have a secure way to store and access money. Additionally, you should close out all joint credit cards at soon as possible, as to avoid your significant other making unapproved charges.

3.) Be mindful of taxes
A divorce will change the way you file for taxes. Make sure you are aware of how the date your divorce is finalized might affect the way you file taxes for this year and the next. You might want to consult a tax attorney if you are unsure about any part of the process.

4) Avoid taking on additional debt
If you are considering filing for divorce, do not take on or cosign any new debt and encourage your spouse to do the same. Remember that any debt either of you takes on during the marriage will be considered joint debt. In this time period you want to be detangling yourself from any joined financial ventures, not taking on new ones. This will only further complicate the divorce process and could result in financial loss on your part.

5.) Update your will and insurance.
You never know when emergency situations will arise, so don't let yourself be caught be surprise. Make sure you update your will, insurance, and any other financial documents to reflect that your spouse is no longer your beneficiary. 

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