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.

7 Tips for Social Media During Your Divorce  preparing for divorce

Social media has become such an important part of our lives. However, when going through a divorce, you may want to be a little more cautious. I am thrilled to welcome guest blogger, Elizabeth Billies, to share the seven don'ts of social media during a divorce.

7 Tips for Social Media During Your Di...

Continue Reading...
The Best Children's Books About Divorce, Organized by Age books for divorce co-parenting divorce coach kids and divorce life after divorce preparing for divorce

 

Talking to your kids about divorce is one of the hardest parts of the whole process.

You are managing your own emotions while trying to find the right words for theirs. You want to be honest without overwhelming them. You want them to feel safe and loved even as everything around them is changing...

Continue Reading...
How to Prepare for Divorce: Divorce Advice for Stay-At-Home Moms alimony/spousal support certified divorce financial analyst child support divorce coach preparing for divorce

Preparing for an impending divorce is more than just picking up the phone and calling an attorney. There are the emotional aspects, financial, legal, and, of course, there are parenting issues. It means figuring out what life is going to look like when it's all said and done and includes preparing y...

Continue Reading...
Divorce and Your Mortgage: What You Need to Know Before You Refinance certified divorce financial analyst debt dividing assets in a divorce house in a divorce preparing for divorce property division in divorce

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...

Continue Reading...
Contemplating Divorce? Why to Talk to a CDFA Before You File certified divorce financial analyst considering divorce divorce financial planning preparing for divorce

Most women I work with did not call a financial professional the day they decided to divorce. They called months later, after the attorney, after the first ugly conversation, after a settlement proposal was already sitting on the table.

By then, a lot of the useful decisions have already been made....

Continue Reading...
Divorce Mediation: The Complete Checklist of Documents, Financial Prep, and What to Expect asset division certified divorce financial analyst dividing assets in a divorce divorce financial planning divorce mediation mediation ohio divorce ohio divorce mediation preparing for divorce property division in divorce

Bring three years of tax returns, recent pay stubs, and current statements for every bank, investment, retirement, and loan account, plus mortgage statements, insurance and annuity policies, Social Security estimates, and profit and loss statements for any business. Organise them in one place before...

Continue Reading...
Hidden Assets in Divorce: How to Spot Them and Protect Your Financial Future asset division certified divorce financial analyst divorce financial planning financial infidelity hidden assets divorce ohio divorce preparing for divorce

One of the questions I hear most often is:

“How do I know if my spouse is hiding money?”

Sometimes that question comes with a very specific concern.

Maybe a bonus suddenly disappeared. Maybe a business is involved. Maybe bank statements have become harder to access. Maybe your spouse’s lifestyle doe...

Continue Reading...
Planning Your Path: A Preparation for Divorce Checklist certified divorce financial analyst collaborative divorce mediation preparing for divorce

If you find yourself currently contemplating the possibility of getting a divorce, it's crucial to ensure that you are well-prepared for the journey that lies ahead. Going through a divorce can be an emotionally challenging and complex process, but with the right preparation, you can navigate it mor...

Continue Reading...
How to Survive Divorce as a Stay-at-Home Mom considering divorce preparing for divorce

I find myself supporting quite a few stay-at-home moms with their divorces. I think that's because stay-at-home moms know with absolute certainty that they cannot afford to make costly financial mistakes in their divorce settlements. When you don't have your own income, and your income is entirely d...

Continue Reading...
How to Prepare Financially for Divorce: A CDFA's Step-by-Step Guide certified divorce financial analyst financial planning preparing for divorce

After more than a decade of helping women navigate divorce, I can tell you that the clients who come out of the process feeling the most confident and in control are almost always the ones who prepared financially before they ever filed paperwork. It does not matter whether the divorce was their ide...

Continue Reading...
10 Ways to Save Money on Your Divorce certified divorce financial analyst considering divorce mediation preparing for divorce

Divorce is expensive. I've heard that the national average is around $20,000-25,000. Transitioning from marriage to divorce is hard enough without the hefty price tag. However, if you look at search engine traffic, a lot more people are searching for how they can protect their money in a divorce rat...

Continue Reading...
Who Gets the House in a Divorce? Key Factors to Know. certified divorce financial analyst collaborative divorce dividing assets in a divorce going through divorce house in a divorce mediation ohio divorce preparing for divorce property division in divorce separate property

"Who gets the house?" is one of the first questions that comes up when couples start talking about divorce. In my more than 20 years as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I have heard it thousands of times, and the honest answer is always the same: it depends.

The family home is not like other a...

Continue Reading...