Tips for Financial Recovery After Divorce or Separation

Rebuilding After Divorce

Going through a divorce can leave your finances feeling completely upended. Suddenly managing two households instead of one is costly, regardless of your income or the terms of your settlement. If you're struggling with money after a divorce, you're not alone—and there is a path forward.

With intentional action, your financial recovery after divorce can happen faster than you might think. Here’s a five-step plan to help you regain stability and rebuild your financial foundation.

Step 1: Commit to Your Financial Recovery

The most important thing that you can do is to prioritize improving your financial situation. Sure, you may recognize that your finances are not what they once were, but if you don't take the steps to change your situation, you'll find yourself in the same spot months or even years from now.

Decide to start immediately. You'll thank yourself later.

Step 2: Know your starting point

Once you've made improving your financial situation a priority, it's important to know where to start. Take the time to write down all of your accounts, including bank accounts, retirement accounts, loans, etc. Document each balance, the most recent return, and/or the interest rate involved.

For savings and investment accounts, include how much you are contributing to those accounts each month. If you have debt, make sure to include whether the interest rate is fixed or variable, along with the minimum payment you are responsible for.

Step 3: Identify Your Priorities

Once you've evaluated your starting point, you'll be able to see areas that need improvement. If the issues aren't clear, start by asking yourself the following questions:

• Is your savings account balance lower than you would like it to be?
• Do you have high-interest debt that needs to be refinanced and/or paid down?
• What about your expenses? Are there areas in which you could reduce spending? If not, do you need to increase your income.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so your areas to focus on will be unique to you. If you need help identifying and/or prioritizing where to focus, contact us.  

Step 4: Set Goals and Create a Post-Divorce Financial Plan

Once you've decided where to focus, it's time to begin setting specific, measurable, and time-bound goals for yourself. For example, a goal might be to increase your emergency savings account by $10,000 over the next 12 months. It might be tempting to skip this step, but without a goal, there can be no plan, and without a plan, failure is inevitable. 

Use the goal you've set to create your plan. If your goal is to save $10,000 over 12 months, then you'll likely need to put away roughly $840 each month. How will you do that?

• Will you split that amount up weekly?
• Will you change your direct deposit to go directly into your savings account?
• Do you need an additional income to be able to achieve your goal?

Put the plan in place ahead of time so that there's no guesswork as to how you will meet your goal.

Step 5: Find an Accountability Partner

Achieving financial security after divorce doesn’t happen in isolation. Surround yourself with support by choosing an accountability partner—someone who will check in, offer encouragement, and ask tough questions when needed.

This could be a trusted friend, a therapist, or a professional like a divorce coach or financial planner. Having someone in your corner increases your chances of success and helps you stay motivated, even when the process gets tough.

Take the Next Step with the Post-Divorce Financial Roadmap

If you're unsure where to begin or want expert guidance from  Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) to accelerate your financial recovery, our Post-Divorce Financial Roadmap is the perfect place to start.

This personalized service includes:

✅ A comprehensive financial snapshot to understand your current position
✅ A 1:1 strategy session with a divorce financial professional
✅ A customized action plan tailored to your goals and challenges
✅ Ongoing support to help you stay on track as life evolves

Whether you're navigating savings goals, debt management, or planning for retirement after divorce, this roadmap will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward with intention.

🎯 Take control of your financial future today.
Learn more about the Post-Divorce Financial Roadmap →