In this continuing series on preparing for divorce, there are some simple things you should do for you – not for the divorce – but before the process begins.
Before your divorce becomes a legal separation making you entirely independent, take care of those nagging “must do’s” in your life that for one reason or another have been delayed.
- Take care of necessary medical and dental issues now – before your health insurance may change – not only for you, but also for your children, if any
- Have a technician go through your car with a fine-toothed comb to identify any repairs that may be needed so that you are not caught off-guard with large expenses after your divorce
- If you are keeping your house, do the same – go through and make a list of necessary repairs, get an assessment on your furnace and AC, and be sure to take a look at the roof and windows – knowing what to expect goes a long way in preparing for your financial future
Step #4 – Set yourself up for privacy
You have no doubt shared nearly everything with your spouse. After all, you were a team working together in everything from finances to a social life. It’s hard to consider that someone with whom you were once so close will now be someone you need to safeguard against.
But it is not just your spouse you need to safeguard against, it’s everyone he/she has possibly shared confidential information with – it’s about protecting yourself against what you don’t know.
It’s time to get more secure. Change all of your account user names and passwords. If you share an email account – get your own. Change the locking code on your phone and the password on your computer. Change the password for your home internet connection. Review online bill pay and bank account access and safeguard your passwords. Secure your credit cards; cancel joint cards to avoid running up new bills. Review all of your account access codes – right down to online shopping accounts – it’s not about your spouse intentionally acting inappropriately, it’s about safeguarding that no one can.
