HELPFUL FINANCIAL REMINDERS WHEN GOING THROUGH DIVORCE

by Van Den Heuvel Law Office

Perhaps the single greatest issue that divorcing couples face, other than child custody decisions for those who have children, is determining how to divide their assets. The problem for many people in this situation is that they don’t have enough knowledge about their money matters in order to make the right financial choices in divorce. However, in order to get through divorce on positive financial ground you need to understand that divorce is a legal transaction, which includes many aspects that deal with finances.

The problem is in most cases divorce involve two people who are emotionally charged and therefore often have a hard time making sound decisions based on rational thought. Instead they tend to let their emotions get in the way and allow those emotions to rule their decision-making processes. In every aspect of divorce, including finances, its best not to make decisions based emotions. One of the keys to successfully managing the financial aspects of divorce is having a solid understanding of your finances before the divorce process begins. For example, it’s a good idea for all married people to have a hand in their financial planning.

Many couples choose to have just one spouse handle the money in their relationship, but if they end up getting divorced this can be very harmful to the spouse that was hands-off. It’s helpful for both spouses to have an understanding of their assets. They should also know who has ownership of their assets and where those assets are located. It’s also very wise to know how much income the family has as well as all the expenses. Another important thing to be aware of is the difference between marital and separate property. Most assets that you owned before the marriage should still be yours in divorce, but there are exceptions. Therefore, you should be aware of who brought which assets to the marriage.

Another step that will go a long way in helping you through divorce financially is contacting an experienced divorce lawyer. While many attorneys may claim they can help you with family law issues, hiring an attorney that mainly focuses on criminal cases is probably not the best idea. A divorce lawyer will know how to guide you through the process, including property division. This gives you a better chance of getting through the divorce process in positive financial shape. Every situation is different so if you are considering divorce then it’s always a good idea to speak with an experienced Grand Rapids divorce attorney before making any important decisions.

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