Providing for legal and financial needs...
The first step in any divorce is to determine the legal path you will take. Most people’s only frame of reference is to hire a divorce attorney. There are several paths to divorce, however; choosing one over another requires a willingness between both parties. If each party takes the time to educate themselves on their options, this could prove to be the most financially prudent decision they could make. Costs vary greatly between litigated and non-litigated divorces. Litigated divorces also carry some of the highest physical, emotional, and spiritual cost in collateral damage. Not all divorces can stay out of court. Divorcing a narcissist or someone that is hiding assets can require the weight of the court and other forensic experts. If you are fortunate enough to be on amicable terms with your spouse, and both are in agreement to cooperate and mitigate the cost of divorce, you can choose a more non-adversarial path to divorce. Here is a list of the paths to divorce and some of the legal and financial professions to add to your divorce support system:
If you need guidance in choosing the path for divorce or picking the components of your legal and financial divorce support system, divorce coaches can be a valuable resource to educate, and assess your needs.
Legal Paths to Divorce:
DIVORCE ATTORNEY-LITIGATED OR NON-LITIGATED
MEDIATOR (ATTORNEY OR NON-ATTORNEY)
COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE TEAM
PARALEGAL
DO IT YOURSELF – OUTSIDE OF COURT
SELF REPRESENT YOURSELF (PRO PER) IN COURT
Financial Support during Divorce:
CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST®
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT
BUSINESS APPRAISER
BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY
ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY
REAL ESTATE BROKER/FORESNIC REAL ESTATE DIVORCE STRATEGIST®/CERTIFIED REAL ESTATE DIVORCE SPECIALIST®
REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
BANKER
INSURANCE AGENTS – HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION, LIFE, DISABILITY, BUSINESS, AUTO, COMMERCIAL, RENTERS, ETC.
CREDIT COUNSELORS
BOOKKEEPERS
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ERRANDS, ETC.
The more financial assets you have, the more financial professionals you may need. In preparation of identifying your needs, collect the following documents:
- INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS
- BUSINESS TAX RETURNS FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS
- BANK, BROKERAGE, AND OTHER INVESTMENT ACCOUNT STATEMENTS
- INSURANCE POLICIES
- REAL ESTATE DEEDS
- MORTGAGE STATEMENTS
- COPIES OF CREDIT REPORTS
- WILLS, TRUSTS, OR OTHER ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS
- PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
- PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS
- CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS
- OTHER DEBT STATEMENTS INCLUDING CAR PAYMENTS
- COPIES OF CAR REGISTRATIONS
- COPIES OF APPRAISALS FOR REAL ESTATE, JEWLERY, ART, ETC.
- STATEMENTS OF SEPERATE PROPERTY BROUGHT TO THE MARRIAGE
- ESCROW CLOSING STATEMENTS IF SEPERATE PROPERTY WAS USED
- INVENTORY ANYTHING OF VALUE (ART, JEWLERY, PERSONAL FURNISHINGS, ETC.)
- COPIES OF ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS (ASSETS AND DEBTS)
