What Women Should Know About Divorce and Finances – From a Financial Advisor Who’s Been There

by Lindsay Taylor, J.D., CFP®

Whether your divorce comes out of the blue or it’s been a long time coming, you have one thing in common with everyone else who has gone through it: uncertainty.

Women going through divorce face so many pivotal questions: Will I have to move? Will my kids have to change their lives and comforts? Who is this person I’ve known so intimately and how do I deal with them now? How do I protect myself financially?

Often, these feelings can seem overwhelming. Even with my background as a financial advisor and attorney, I felt ill-prepared when it came to my own divorce.

As of 2023, women are the primary or sole breadwinner in only 16% of opposite sex marriages in the U.S. according to a study by The Pew Research Center. That’s why women—more often than men—find themselves in a vulnerable financial position when a marriage ends.

Educating yourself on your finances can help you deal with the uncertainty, remove some of that vulnerability, and improve your future. As part of the standard divorce process, you will be expected to:

• Submit a legal statement of assets and debts to the court.
• Plan for your financial reality after the divorce is final.
• Locate your financial assets ahead of time if you are one of the many women who fear that assets will be hidden or moved after the paperwork is filed. (Fortunately, this happens less often than most people think).

Working with a financial advisor can help answer a lot of your questions, provide tailored advice to your circumstances, and help you take the emotion out of financial decisions.

Use our checklist below to get started educating yourself and working with your advisor to strengthen your position as your divorce proceeds.

How financial advisors can help in divorce

Your advisor can help you through the process of untangling the assets you share with your spouse. They’ll work with you to build a post-divorce budget (see more on the checklist below.) They can explain taxes and project how much income alimony, child support, and your other assets may provide for you. This information helps to educate and empower you to determine your next steps for your financial future.

Your advisor can also help you proactively plan future asset growth and guide you through your post-divorce work plans. Here are some questions they may help you consider:

• Do you want to stay in the family home or move?
• Will you need to go back to work if you’re not currently working?
• What will it mean to work more or less if you work outside of the home now?
• What childcare changes will you need in order to work at the level required and how much will those cost?
• Do you need to return to school to potentially increase your earning potential?

Your pre-divorce financial checklist

Preparing for the financial implications of an impending divorce ahead of time (or early in the process if you’re caught offguard) can give you the tools to reduce some of the stress, fear, and uncertainty during the long and often complicated, emotional divorce process. It can also help you create a stable financial plan for the future with your advisor.

Here’s a checklist of financial items to consider during this process:

1. Establish your legal team. Interview several attorneys to find the right fit for you and your circumstances.
2. Run your free credit report. Know what debts the credit bureaus have associated with your name. Visit annualcreditreport.com, which provides one free credit report from each of the three bureaus annually.
3. Open a checking account and credit card in your name. Establish accounts that are independent from your spouse.
4. Build an emergency fund. Set aside cash in case you need emergency access to money. Your financial advisor can help you develop a plan that works for your situation.
5. Collect financial statements and personal documents. Gather copies of statements regarding your assets and debts. Find online passwords for your retirement, college, and other investment account statements, as well as bank account statements. Put your and your children’s (if applicable) birth certificates, social security cards, and passports in a place where you have access to them.
6. Collect past tax returns. Keep as many past returns and copies of W-2s as you can find.
7. Build a post-divorce budget. Project your non-discretionary expenses (Housing, Food, Utilities etc.)  and your discretionary expenses in order to create your goals and determine the reasonableness of the financial offer you receive. The budget can help you negotiate during mediation or trial.
8. Plan for your children’s needs. Think about long-term expenses as your children grow, including health insurance, known medical expenses, education costs (private school and college), extracurriculars they participate in, and driving expenses like a car and insurance.
9. Understand your pre- and post-marital assets. Everything is up for debate in divorce, so it’s important to understand what you each came into the marriage with and what assets were acquired during the marriage. If you signed a pre-nuptial agreement, understand what that document says.
10. Create an email address for divorce communications. Dedicate an email address solely for divorce communications to help minimize messages getting lost.
11. Consider seeing a therapist. A therapist can be a good resource to talk through your thoughts and feelings and help think about how you communicate with your children and your spouse.

Getting organized and getting answers

While it’s important before and during the divorce process to know your financial situation and organize your documents, going through life transitions can bring up questions for which you may not have the answers. As you collect the information, the answers will come through a lot of communications and planning with professionals. Having a plan and a trusted team can help you feel less overwhelmed and more confident about your post-divorce financial picture.

If you are considering a divorce and want to better understand its financial impact, fill out the form below to request advisor outreach.

Source: Pew Research

© 2026 Advisory services offered by Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC, (“MGIA”) an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). MGIA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Moneta Group, LLC. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only, is not intended to be comprehensive or exclusive, and is based on materials deemed reliable, but the accuracy of which has not been verified. Trademarks and copyrights of materials referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Index returns reflect total return, assuming reinvestment of dividends and interest. The returns do not reflect the effect of taxes and/or fees that an investor would incur. Examples contained herein are for illustrative purposes only based on generic assumptions. Given the dynamic nature of the subject matter and the environment in which this communication was written, the information contained herein is subject to change. This is not an offer to sell or buy securities, nor does it represent any specific recommendation. You should consult with an appropriately credentialed professional before making any financial, investment, tax or legal decision. An index is an unmanaged portfolio of specified securities and does not reflect any initial or ongoing expenses nor can it be invested in directly. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. All investments are subject to a risk of loss. Diversification and strategic asset allocation do not assure profit or protect against loss in declining markets. These materials do not take into consideration your personal circumstances, financial or otherwise.