Keeping finances secure during a divorce
Residents in Illinois and other parts of the country might discover that finances can easily be depleted when going through a divorce. Money is spent on hiring an attorney in addition to paying the everyday bills that need to be covered, such as a house payment or a car payment. When going through a divorce, one can utilize a few financial strategies to protect their finances and to save as much money as possible.
The first thing that should be done is to consult with an attorney. The office can offer advice on what to do about bank accounts and property that is owned together. One should examine credit reports to see if there are any new accounts or if there is more debt added to current ones. If there are joint accounts, they should be closed. If there are any joint accounts that can’t be closed until after the divorce, the activity should be monitored on a regular basis. A person might consider opening accounts that are only in one name. This will allow for careful monitoring while keeping other people from using the account. It’s also a good idea to create documents that detail all the money that is owned and spent.
A financial expert can help get a budget in order and help sort the expenses that need to be paid. If any kind of property is owned together, a person should make sure that each name is on the title or the deed so that the assets are equally distributed. Any will that includes the spouse should be updated to remove them. It is also ideal to create a budget that can be followed based on income.
An attorney who specializes in divorce proceedings can offer suggestions about how to handle assets and finances. The attorney can also help prepare any financial documents that are needed or file any paperwork that needs to be changed or created.