At best, divorce is a time of distraction in one's life, when emotional and family concerns take center stage and financial issues often take a back seat. Yet divorce is one of the biggest triggers of bankruptcy in a world where bankruptcy has gotten a lot tougher to file. That means that financial planning is crucial when a marriage breaks up.

Anyone filing divorce should seek the help of financial and tax advisers as well as attorneys skilled in divorce, experts say, because financial issues that get pushed to the background eventually can take a surprising and disastrous toll on the newly single ex-spouse and his or her children.

Planning

• Divorce? Financially Prepare Yourself
• The Biggest Financial Mistakes People Make in Divorce – and How to Avoid Them
• Getting a Divorce? Avoid Common Financial Mistakes
• How to Handle a Divorce Settlement

Additional Resources

• Getting a Divorce? What It Means for Your Business
• How a Financial Planner Can Help You ... and How to Choose the Right One Brochure (PDF | 640KB)