5 Critical Steps to Help Women Financially Prepare for Divorce

A couple give each other the &quot;side eye.&quot; — (Image credit: Getty Images)

As we move through the latter stages of the pandemic, many couples are resuming their plans to end their marriages. These plans were placed on pause during the pandemic, which explains why there was a decline in divorces in the year 2020.

Emerging Financially Healthy After a Gray Divorce

When a heterosexual marriage ends, women still tend to experience the larger drop in income, with women’s household income falling by 41% while men’s fall only 23%, according to research by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. If you have been considering moving forward with a divorce post-pandemic, listed below are five critical steps all women should take to be prepared financially for this stressful transition. As a financial adviser who has also experienced divorce, these steps helped me begin my own transition.

1. Reflect and take action

Take some time to reflect on your situation so that you can move to the acceptance phase of realizing your marriage has ended. During this time, you should research and gather a team of professionals you are going to need, such as a marriage counselor, divorce attorney, financial adviser and tax professional. Having a team of these professionals will empower you to move forward with the next phase of your life. In addition to the above, I also started seeing a therapist, which helped me to mentally face every step of the divorce process.

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2. Open your own bank accounts

If you don’t already have checking and savings accounts in your own name, now is the time to open them. You should start by having your full paycheck auto deposited into your new accounts. During this time, you could just transfer the funds needed to contribute to the house expenses until the divorce is final. This is the first step of getting into the habit of managing your own finances. I found this step to be critical because I was able to regain control of my finances early-on. The account-opening process can also be time consuming, so it’s best to start as early as you can.

3. Begin building your credit

You may have credit card accounts that are jointly held. Now it is time to build your own credit by getting a credit card in your name. This is also a good time to apply for your FICO credit score from all credit bureaus so that you will know how creditworthy you are when it comes to making those larges purchase, such as buying a home or a car. I am proud to have been able to purchase my own home while still owning a home jointly with my ex-spouse. It was my pay history and credit score that granted the approval.

4. Get frugal

As you may know, attorney’s fees are charged at an hourly rate, which can add up until your divorce is final. Also, the expenses of moving or possibly losing half of your things will require you to start over and repurchase necessary items, such as furniture and kitchen equipment. Going through the divorce process is the time to sock away every spare dime you have. Here are few tips on how to get started:

Review your personal expenses and separate needs from wants. Perform a detailed inventory of your expenses. You may find that you spend too much on subscriptions or are making too many trips to Starbucks. Doing this may help you find the extra cash you need during this transition.
Turn your emergency fund into a divorce fund by saving your tax refunds, bonuses or any other discretionary income you may have. Designate a separate bank account for this fund — one without a debit card, so you won’t be tempted to use it. Watching this fund grow can give you the empowerment and motivation to keep going.
Stop using credit and turn to cash for your regular purchases. A low or zero balance on your credit card may be needed when you begin a life on your own. As mentioned earlier, you will need to be in good credit standing to start your life as a single woman.
Automate as many of your expenses as you can. My ex-spouse paid the bills, so I never had to think about them. As a single mom, I thought this was a daunting task, especially if bills were due on different dates. I learned that placing your expenses to be paid on autopilot keeps the bills paid on time and gives you more time for yourself with less worry about missing payment deadlines and incurring late fees.

5. Practice independence

During my experience going through a divorce, I created a model cash flow spreadsheet with the details of my income and expenses. For example, I researched and estimated what the total cost would be to rent or purchase a home. Furthermore, I estimated what utilities, groceries, cable, etc. was going to cost while living on my own. This process helped me visualize what my new life would look like, while also empowering me to believe that I can live on my own again. Doing so helped me make sound financial decisions because I knew what my budget limits were.

Going through a divorce can be one of the most stressful and draining experiences of your life. But once it’s behind you, it can also be incredibly freeing. It’s important to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for a divorce, but preparing yourself financially is critical to your success and well-being. Trust me — your future self will look back and thank you for taking such good care of her.

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Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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Renora Nelson is a wealth manager at Merit Financial Advisors, where she helps her clients plan for and enjoy their retirement years. With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry, she has a bachelor's in accounting and has her Series 7, 63, 24, and 65 licenses. Renora has a 16-year-old son and lives in Georgia.