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Financial Impact of Divorce

By: James Walsh

Financial Needs during Divorce


  • The court and the solicitor fees have to be paid.

  • A new house has to be purchased or taken on lease. This is an immediate requirement that cannot be postponed.

  • Furniture for the house and a car for conveyance might also be necessary.


Handling financial issues are quite difficult. The best way to tackle them is having a long term view of the whole situation. Only financial experts can help one understand the future of any decision arrived at.

Preparing Financially for the Divorce

  • Many financially dependent spouses (especially the wife) hardly know the details of the monthly household expenditure.

  • Such ignorance can be dispelled by making a note of the cash inflow.

  • All the incurred expenditure should also be noted. This can be done by checking out the bills.

  • Based on these figures a budget can be planned.

  • Financially dependent spouses must immediately seek employment. And, those who are already employed should not leave their jobs. This is a necessary precaution for the regular inflow of alimony after divorce cannot be guaranteed.


The services of a divorce financial expert must be sought if necessary; for the financial aspect of a divorce does not end with the calculation of monthly expenditure. The marital assets have to be divided and appropriate planning has to be done regarding debts, and retirement pensions.

Divorce and Debt

  • Debt planning begins by first writing down the varied debts that were incurred during the marital period. Having the figure written down on paper gives a clear idea which is helpful during negotiations.

  • While planning debt sharing, both the partners must exercise restraint and not incur extra debts. Extra debts change the financial picture. This is difficult to tackle in a scenario marked with lower earnings.

  • At times, even repaying the existing mortgages becomes difficult. A new solution for debt repayment must be worked out with the lenders.

  • Debts incurred on the credit cards must be cleared. This enables the purchase of the much required new items for the post-divorce period. Those who do not have a credit card should begin by applying for one.

  • Finally, those debts that require immediate repayment like gas or electricity should be repaid first.


Divorce and the Marital Home

The marital home is probably the biggest asset a couple has. It can be divided in any manner. It is always important to seek the advice of the solicitor before accepting any offer made by the spouse.

Divorce and Pension

Pensions are worth more than the marital homes in certain cases. Both the spouses have an equal share on the pension fund accumulated during the marital period. This fund can be used by a spouse as an exchange for some other financial assets. Pension fund can either be offset thus or earmarked for payment after retirement. But the best possible option is going for a clean break by sharing the pension.

Divorce and Mediation

Petitioning for a divorce, getting the help of a solicitor and seeking individual attorney advices involve expenditure. Apart from gearing to meet the compulsory expenses, care must be taken to rein in avoidable expenditure. Divorcing couples must take care to see that they solve their issues themselves through mediation. This is the least costly procedure.

Precautionary Measures

  • Some people also film the valuable assets they possess. This serves as a valid proof. For, prior to a divorce, anger-induced sale of items is quite a possibility.

  • In a bid to bring down the escalating legal costs, some people attempt divorce without the help of a solicitor. This undoubtedly is the least expensive method. But the long term financial losses would be much more than the short term gains. Only solicitors well-versed in the divorce laws can attempt such a move.


The financial aspect of divorce is very important. Calculations of the maintenance costs, child support money, division of marital home, pension, and debts must be tackled with the help of a solicitor.

Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information about using online services to get a Divorce see www.quickie-divorce.com

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