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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1: Legal vs. Financial Realities of Divorce A. Lessons in Legal Reality B. Your Best Strategy: Think Financially -Act Legally C. Legal vs. Financial Stages of Divorce Chapter 2: Financial Realities No One Talks About A. In Divorce, Everything Takes Longer and Costs More B. When You're Connected to Another Person Financially, You're at Risk C. The IRS Is Watching Your Divorce D. Cash Is King E. You're Playing for Keeps Chapter 3: Emotional Divorce: Managing the "Money Crazies" A. Reduced Stress Whenever You Can B. Safeguard Your Sanity C. Watch Out for Sore Spots D. Be Prepared for Bad Scenes E. Develop a Financially Focused Mental Attitude F. Avoid the "All at Once" Syndrome G. Manage the Ebb and Flow of Emotions H. Don't Let Financial Tasks Overwhelm you Chapter 4: The Hardest Part: Is My Marriage Really Over? Chapter 5: The Separation: Who Must Move Out, And By When? A. The Separation Date B. Questions to Ask Your Attorney Chapter 6: Closing the Books: What Do We Do With Joint Accounts? A. Joint Account Checklist B. Questions to Ask Your Attorney Chapter 7: Getting Help: To Whom Can I Turn? A. Questions to Consider When Seeking Outside Help B. Selecting Professional to Assist You Chapter 8: Financial Fact-Finding: What Must I Know and When Must I Know It? A. Advice to the Terminally Disorganized B. If You Think Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets C. Don't Forget the " Easy-to-Forget" Assets D. What About the Gifts You Gave Me? E. Financial Facts Checklist Chapter 9: Facing the Future: What Must I Plan For? A. Major Upcoming Life Events B. Anticipated Financial Commitments C. Major Goals That will Cost Money D. Where Does the Money Come From? Chapter 10. Protecting Against Risks to Life, Health and Property A. Insurance B. Property and Estate Protection C. Questions to Ask Your Attorney Chapter 11: Taxes: How Do I File and Pay? A. Get a Rough Estimate of Your Tax Bill B. What Status Can Be Used When Filing Tax Returns? C. When in Doubt, File Separately D. What to Know If You File Jointly E. If We Owe Taxes or Will Get a Refund F. Obtain a Court Order for Temporary Alimony or Child Support G. Get you Tax Agreement in Writing H. Questions to Ask You Tax Advisor Chapter 12: Property and Expenses: Who Owns and Who Owes What? A. Who Owns What- Marital Property and The Laws of Your State B. Who Knows What- using Legal Discovery C. Net Worth- What Do You Own and What Do you Owe? D. cash Flow- where Does the Money Go? E. Questions to Ask your Attorney Chapter 13: What Will Happen To The House? A. Financial Versus Legal Realities B. The House- Keep It, Transfer It, Or Sell It- Now or Later? C. Steps Toward settling the House D. Questions To Ask Your Attorney or Financial Advisor Chapter 14: Retirement Benefits: Who Gets What? A. Understanding Retirement Plans B. Qualified Domestic Relations Orders C. The Legal Value of Your Retirement Plans D. The "Financial Value" of Your Retirement Plan E. Calculating the Financial Value of Plans F. Financial Factors Affecting Retirement Plan Divisions G. Dividing IRA's, Defined Contribution Plans or TSA's or Defined Benefit Plans H. Questions to Ask Your Attorney Chapter 15: Financial Investments: How Do We Divide the Portfolio Pie? A. Concepts to Consider B. Steps to a Settlement Chapter 16: Business Assets: What Are They Really Worth? A. Valuing Business at Divorce- the Basic Concept B. Steps to a Settlement C. Questions to Ask Your Attorney or Tax Specialist Chapter 17: How Will We Divide Debts? A. General Rules for Separated, Divorced, and Married People B. If You Live in a Community Property State C. Listing Your Debts D. Marital Debts and Bankruptcy E. Dividing Debts at Divorce F. Dividing Debts When There's "Nothing to Fight Over" G. Questions to Ask Your Attorney H. Some Online Resources Chapter 18: Alimony and Child Support: What Might I Pay or Receive? A. Alimony-Legal, Financial and Emotional Realities B. Steps to a Settlement C. Child Support-Legal, Financial and Emotional Realities D. Steps to a Settlements E. Questions to Ask Your Attorney Chapter 19: Negotiating and Finalizing the Best Possible Settlement A. Have You Done Your Financial Homework? B. Tallying Your Marital Balance Sheet C. How Are the Offers and Counter Offers Made? D. How Do You Finalize the Settlement E. Divorce Ceremonies Chapter 20: After the Divorce: How Do I Get From "We" To "Me" A. How Do I Finish the Business of Divorce? B. Can I- Or My Ex-Spouse- Change the Settlement? C. What Do I Want to Do With My Life? D. If You Find a New Love, Protect Your Old Assets...And Your Alimony E. How Can I Move Beyond the Divorce? Appendix: Resources Beyond the Book A. Law Libraries B. Lawyers and Typing Services C. Online Legal Resources D. Additional Resources E. Present Value Factors Table F. Future Value Factors Table G. List of Professional Advisors Close Window