The Intentional Divorce Library
Divorce comes with more financial questions than anyone expects. This is where you'll find real answers on asset division, budgeting, retirement, and the mistakes that quietly cost women the most, written by a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who has helped clients navigate exactly what you're facing now.
No fluff, no fear tactics. Just the information you need to make clear-eyed decisions and protect the life you're building next.
Not sure where to start?
Every article here is written for a particular moment. Start with the stage that matches where you are, and you will find the handful of pieces that actually apply to you.
- I am considering divorce. Can I afford it, what happens to the house, what should I know before talking to an attorney.
- I am preparing for divorce. Documents, credit, insurance, retirement accounts, and choosing your professional team.
- I am going through divorce. The house, support, dividing retirement, QDROs, taxes, and evaluating a settlement.
- My divorce is final. Retitling assets, confirming the QDRO, beneficiaries, rebuilding cash flow and credit.
Browsing by topic instead? Every category is listed in the sidebar, from QDROs and the family home to co-parenting and life after divorce.
Let's start with the basics. When it comes to retirement accounts, there is a wide array of options available - from the popular IRAs, ROTH IRAs, and 401(K)s, to numerous other lesser-known plans. With so many choices, it can be overwhelming for individuals who are not dealing with them on a daily b...
Dividing assets during a divorce is rarely straightforward, especially when it comes to retirement accounts. From pensions and 401(k)s to IRAs and Roth accounts, each type of retirement asset comes with its own set of rules, tax implications, and liquidity concerns. Add in considerations like Qualif...
Divorce mediation is likely to work for you if both of you can stay civil in communication, are willing to disclose finances fully, and share some commitment to settling rather than fighting. You do not need to agree on the terms. That is what mediation is for. What you do need is a shared willingne...
Editor's note: The mortgage lending guidance in this post reflects the expertise of a Certified Divorce Lending Specialist and covers principles that hold true regardless of market conditions. Specific figures such as interest rates and home values shift over time. Always confirm current qualificati...
Here is something I hear constantly in first meetings.
"Can I keep the house?" "Will I lose my health insurance?" "What am I going to do financially?"
These questions keep people up at night. And almost every one of them circles back to the same issue: money. Specifically, spousal support.
Spousal supp...
I strongly believe in the benefits of choosing mediation for your divorce but it's also important to understand the challenges and prepare for those. The decisions made in mediation can significantly impact your life for years to come. With that in mind, it can be easy to become overwhelmed during t...
The holidays during or after a divorce are hardest the first year, and they get easier. What helps most: agree the schedule with your co-parent early rather than in December, decide in advance what you will say to family so you are not improvising over dinner, keep the traditions that still work and...
Mediation usually stalls for emotional reasons rather than practical ones. Daniel Shapiro of the Harvard International Negotiation Program identifies five traps that pull people into a "me versus you" mindset: vertigo, where the past feels like the present; taboos, the things nobody will name; repet...
Divorce can be one of the most stressful transitions in life, especially when it comes to dividing assets. In many marriages, one spouse handles the finances, including investments, while the other may not be as involved. This can make dividing investment accounts in divorce particularly overwhelmin...
If you're recently divorced and not sure what to do with your ex's retirement account, you're not alone. This is one of the most common questions I hear, and it doesn't go away just because the divorce is final. I regularly talk to people who've been divorced for over a year and still haven't moved ...
First, if you are considering leaving an abusive relationship and are in an unsafe situation, I encourage you to contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline for assistance.
If you are experiencing financial abuse in your relationship, it's important to take action to protect yourself. Financial ...
Your divorce settlement can change how much financial aid your child qualifies for. The decisions that matter most are which parent ends up providing the majority of financial support, how spousal support is structured, and which assets each of you walks away with. Retirement accounts and home equit...
