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| Uncommon Sense | Dont wind up divorced and destitute
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Always read the mail, advises Smith, and if the mail goes to your spouse's office or a post office box, that's not a good sign.
Do the math. A big financial stumbling block for women is when they have to go from two incomes to one, or from his income to hers. Prep yourself by knowing any and all household expenses.
Stake your claim. Make sure your name is on all assets (house, car, boat or other property) and on all investment accounts. If you have valuable antiques or collectibles, keep copies of the appraisals.
Polish your resume. If your job skills aren't current, find ways to make them so. Take a class, get a part-time job, volunteer to work in a friend's business.
Take credit. Marian was shocked to find that many of her clients don't have a credit card in their own name. "It's essential that you establish your own credit before you leave the marriage," she says. If you're worried about falling into debt, applying for even a secured card can help to build a credit record -- which you'll need if you have to rent an apartment or lease a car, for example.
Be ready to downsize. The style to which you've been accustomed may not be the style you can afford, post-divorce -- a fact many women find hard to accept. But keeping up appearances can lead to big debt; single women with kids, many of them divorced, have the nation's highest bankruptcy rates. Consider a smaller house or apartment, a cheaper car or a tighter budget, at least until you're on your feet.
Don't run. When a marriage crumbles, many women just want to put the whole thing behind them -- which is often the worst financial move, says Marian. "It hurts so much, you just want to get him out of your hair, but we give up our financial security just to 'get it over with'."
Know your rights. If things are really rocky, consult with a good divorce lawyer or a CDFA, or both. Many women don't know their rights, says Smith, or they have misconceptions about what a divorce settlement might look like or how much alimony they might get. "A lot of women think, 'The courts will take care of me' -- wake up! You have to take care of yourself."
It's scary to think of a marriage ending. But just because you start taking financial responsibility now doesn't mean things will unravel further. If anything, your greater interest, participation and support around financial issues could bring you closer to your spouse.
Intimacy, after all, is the deeper issue. For couples who have reared a family together but perhaps lost track of each other in the process, the transition into midlife can be unexpectedly bumpy. Rather than let problems fester -- and possibly face the financial upheaval of a split -- it might be wise to invest in a better understanding of the different transitions you and your spouse are facing.
An empty or almost-empty nest, looming retirement, aging parents, college costs, a stagnating career -- all the travails of middle age -- these are the major financial and emotional issues couples need to grapple with.
And in the meantime, it can't hurt to get your own financial house in order. Just in case.
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MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. An investor's best course of action must be based on individual circumstances.
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