How to financially prepare for divorce or separation

At some point in your relationship, you and your partner decided to combine your finances either partially or completely.

But now you’ve decided to divorce, and you need to separate your finances again. While the emotional aspects of divorce can be difficult, the financial aspects don’t have to be. Here are some ways to prepare your money for a separation or divorce.

Gather your financial information

This includes:

• Statements for bank and investment accounts, pension plans and credit cards
• Insurance policies
• Loan and mortgage statements
• Tax returns from the last three years
• Property tax bills
• Credit reports
• A list of assets including real estate and vehicles

Close joint accounts

Close any joint accounts, open separate accounts and decide how to separate the funds. While splitting the funds may make sense, know that the funds could be subject to other claims through the process for yourself. Stop using any joint credit cards and joint lines-of-credit.

Take charge of your finances

With many couples, one partner’s role is to manage finances. If this wasn’t typically your role in your relationship, it may be a challenge for you to take it on.

Either partner in an opposite-sex or marriage or same-sex marriage can take the lead on a couple’s finances, but Canada Life surveyed a panel of women who have experienced a divorce or separation and asked what advice they would give to their former selves. The most common answers were things like saving, budgeting, being more involved in the household finances and working with an advisor.

I can also give you advice and help you make financial decisions. If you were my clients as a couple, one of you should likely find your own advisor who can help build a plan for your specific situation.

65% of those who responded to the Canada Life survey and worked with an advisor felt their settlement was fair and equitable, compared to 35% who didn’t work with an advisor.

Review your spending plan

You’ll likely need adjust your current expenses and income to account for post-divorce reality. Create a new budget that includes changes to your income, new housing expenses, child support, alimony etc.

Review your estate plan

Chances are, you’ll need to revise your will and powers of attorney. You may also choose to change beneficiaries on life insurance policies and investment accounts.

Understand your divorce options

There are lots of ways your divorce can proceed. While lawyers may need to be involved to protect your rights and interests, they can also be expensive.

If you and your spouse can find common ground, you may be able to use a mediator to reach agreements faster without lawyers. You may also be able to agree on many things yourselves without anyone’s help, which may narrow the need for a mediator or a lawyer. Either of these options can save you both money, but it is important to understand your rights and obligations.

Unique challenges for women

If you’re a woman in a divorce, your situation may be different than it would be for a man. For instance:

• Based on 2020 life expectancy stats, you could live almost four years longer than a man, so you’ll need to save for retirement accordingly
• Generally, women earn less than men and this pay equity gap means you may save less and may need to work longer to prepare financially for retirement
• If you take on a caregiver role for aging or ill parents you may need to leave your job for a time and miss pay raises and retirement contributions

What's next?

Now you know how preparing financially for a divorce or separation can make the experience less daunting, let’s meet. We can talk about:

• Taking charge of your finances.
• Creating a post-divorce budget.
• Estate planning changes.

Women’s financial well-being through separation and divorce survey, May 2023