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.

Browsing by topic instead? Every category is listed in the sidebar, from QDROs and the family home to co-parenting and life after divorce.

You Were Awarded Part of His Retirement. Here's How to Actually Get It. going through divorce life after divorce pension in divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

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 ...

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How to Divide Assets in a Divorce: 7 Questions to Ask Yourself certified divorce financial analyst dividing assets in a divorce going through divorce house in a divorce property division in divorce retirement accounts in divorce

Are you worried about splitting assets in a divorce?

Worrying over financial decisions is normal on an average day, but when going through a divorce, it can be paralyzing. Unfortunately, the fear around these issues is completely warranted. You only have one chance to get it right, and your divorce ...

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Dividing Pensions in a Divorce: Shared vs. Separate Interest dividing assets in a divorce going through divorce pension in divorce property division in divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

Dividing pensions in a divorce can be confusing. For starters, some clients that I see are often confused (even after negotiating their divorce settlement) regarding what type of retirement account(s) they have. In this blog, I am referring specifically to defined benefit plans. Defined benefit plan...

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How to determine which assets to keep in a divorce going through divorce house in a divorce retirement accounts in divorce

Most of the time, when I sit down with couples preparing to dissolve their marriage, individuals assume that each account will be divided in half. Did you know that's not always the case? In states like Ohio, where the law requires an equitable distribution of assets in a divorce, it's important to ...

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Ohio Teacher Divorce: 4 STRS Pension Tips You Need to Know divorce financial planning going through divorce ohio divorce pension in divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

 

If you are a teacher going through a divorce in Ohio, this one is for you.

Teachers hold a special place in my heart. Early in my career, I was a teacher. I earned my Master's in Education and have made quite a few teacher friends over the years. My children have been blessed with wonderful teache...

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What is considered separate property in a divorce? dividing assets in a divorce going through divorce inheritance in a divorce property division in divorce retirement accounts in divorce separate property

It's common for clients to enter my office with misconceptions regarding separate property in a divorce and how assets should be divided. This confusion often arises from reading online articles without verifying the source. Remember, laws regarding separate property during a divorce can differ grea...

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Social Security Benefits for Divorced Spouses: What You Need to Know divorce after 50 divorce financial planning financial planning gray divorce life after divorce ohio divorce preparing for divorce retirement accounts in divorce

This is one of the questions I get most often. Every single day, someone reaches out asking some version of: what happens with Social Security after my divorce?

If you were married for at least ten years, you may be entitled to collect Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record....

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What is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst? certified divorce financial analyst dividing assets in a divorce ohio divorce preparing for divorce property division in divorce retirement accounts in divorce

Dealing with a divorce is stressful enough. Add complicated financial decisions to the mix and it can feel completely overwhelming.

That is where a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst comes in.

If you have been wondering what a CDFA actually does, whether you need one, and how they are different fro...

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How to Divide a 401(k) in a Divorce 401k in divorce asset division certified divorce financial analyst going through divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

Divorce is one of the hardest transitions you will go through, and in the middle of all that emotional weight, you are also being asked to make financial decisions that will follow you for decades. That is a lot to carry at once.

If your marriage involved a 401k, whether it is yours or your spouse's...

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What Is a QDRO? A Divorce Financial Guide to Understanding and Obtaining a Qualified Domestic Relations Order certified divorce financial analyst going through divorce property division in divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

By the time someone asks me about a QDRO, they are usually already overwhelmed.

They are trying to understand attorneys, financial disclosures, settlement options, retirement accounts, taxes, and all kinds of paperwork they never expected to be dealing with.

So when the term QDRO comes up, the respo...

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How Is a Pension Valued in a Divorce? certified divorce financial analyst dividing assets in a divorce going through divorce pension in divorce property division in divorce qdro retirement accounts in divorce

Are you losing thousands of dollars due to the financial fears that arise during the process of dissolution or divorce? The cost of the divorce itself is undeniably one of the biggest concerns clients express. There is no question about it. The duration and expenses involved in divorce proceedings u...

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