| Introduction: Your Financial Companion During Divorce | p. 1 |
| If You Are Feeling Overwhelmed | p. 4 |
| Managing Your Divorce in Troubled Financial Times | p. 5 |
| How to Use This Book | p. 9 |
| A Note on Same-Sex Marriage and This Book | p. 10 |
1 | Legal vs. Financial Realities of Divorce | p. 13 |
| Lessons in Legal Reality | p. 15 |
| Your Best Strategy: Think Financially-Act Legally | p. 22 |
| Legal vs. Financial Stages of Divorce | p. 23 |
2 | Financial Realities No One Talks About | p. 27 |
| In Divorce, Everything Takes Longer and Costs More | p. 30 |
| You're at Risk When You're Financially Connected to Another Person | p. 31 |
| The IRS Is Watching Your Divorce | p. 32 |
| Cash is King | p. 33 |
| You're Playing for Keeps | p. 35 |
3 | Emotional Divorce: Managing the "Money Crazies" | p. 37 |
| Reduce Stress Whenever You Can | p. 41 |
| Safeguard Your Sanity | p. 42 |
| Watch Out for Sore Spots | p. 44 |
| Be Prepared for the Worst | p. 44 |
| Develop a Financially Focused Mental Attitude | p. 46 |
| Avoid the "All at Once" Syndrome | p. 46 |
| Manage the Ebb and Flow of Emotions | p. 47 |
| Don't Let Financial Tasks Overwhelm You | p. 49 |
4 | The Hardest Part: Is My Marriage Really Over? | p. 51 |
5 | The Separation: What Happens When One Spouse Moves Out? | p. 55 |
| The Separation Date | p. 57 |
| Building a Better Credit Report and Credit Score | p. 65 |
| Social Security Benefits After Divorce | p. 68 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 69 |
6 | Closing the Books: What Do We Do With Joint Property? | p. 71 |
| Joint Account Checklist | p. 72 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 83 |
7 | Getting Help: Whom Can I Turn To? | p. 85 |
| Questions to Consider When Seeking Outside Help | p. 86 |
| Selecting Professionals to Assist You | p. 88 |
8 | Financial Fact-Finding: What Must I Know and When Must I Know It? | p. 111 |
| Advice to the Terminally Disorganized | p. 113 |
| If You Think Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets | p. 116 |
| Don't Forget the "Easy-to-Forget" Assets | p. 118 |
| The W-2 and the Tax Return | p. 122 |
| What About the Gifts You Gave Me? | p. 127 |
| Financial Facts Checklist | p. 128 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 128 |
9 | Facing the Future: What Must I Plan For? | p. 133 |
| Major Upcoming Life Events | p. 134 |
| Anticipated Financial Commitments | p. 135 |
| Major Goals That Will Cost Money | p. 136 |
| Where Does the Money Come From? | p. 139 |
10 | Protecting Against Risks to Life, Health, and Property | p. 143 |
| Insurance | p. 144 |
| Property and Estate Protection | p. 150 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 152 |
11 | Taxes: How Do I File and Pay? | p. 155 |
| Get a Rough Estimate of Your Tax Bill | p. 156 |
| Which Status Is Better to Use When Filing Tax Returns? | p. 158 |
| When in Doubt, File Separately | p. 158 |
| What to Know if You File jointly | p. 163 |
| Dividing the Joint Tax Liability-Or the Refund | p. 166 |
| Tax Issues Involving Temporary Alimony or Child Support | p. 169 |
| Get Your Tax Agreement in Writing | p. 170 |
| Questions to Ask a Tax Adviser | p. 170 |
12 | Property and Expenses: Who Owns and Who Owes What? | p. 171 |
| Who Owns What-Marital Property and the Laws of Your State | p. 172 |
| Who Knows What-Using Legal Discovery | p. 175 |
| Net Worth-What Do You Own and What Do You Owe? | p. 177 |
| The Difference Between Assets and Income | p. 189 |
| Cash Flow-Where Does the Money Go? | p. 191 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 193 |
3 | What Will Happen to the House? | p. 205 |
| Financial vs. Legal Realities | p. 207 |
| The House-Keep It, Transfer It, or Sell It? Now or Later? | p. 208 |
| Steps Toward Settling the House | p. 208 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney or Financial Adviser | p. 243 |
4 | Retirement Benefits: Who Gets What? | p. 245 |
| Understanding Retirement Plans | p. 248 |
| Qualified Domestic Relations Orders | p. 257 |
| The Legal Value of Your Retirement Plans | p. 259 |
| The Financial Value of Your Retirement Plans | p. 264 |
| Calculating the Financial Value of Plans | p. 269 |
| Additional Financial Factors Affecting Retirement Plan Divisions | p. 275 |
| The Division Decision: Now or in the Future | p. 279 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 282 |
15 | Financial Investments: How Do We Divide the Portfolio Pie? | p. 287 |
| Concepts to Consider | p. 289 |
| Steps to a Settlement | p. 298 |
16 | Evaluating Employee Benefits and Stock Options | p. 335 |
| Employee Benefits | p. 336 |
| Stock Options and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans | p. 341 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney or a Tax Specialist | p. 351 |
17 | How Will We Divide Debts? | p. 353 |
| General Rules on Who's Responsible for Debt | p. 354 |
| If You Live in a Community Property State | p. 356 |
| Listing Your Debts | p. 357 |
| Marital Debts and Bankruptcy | p. 357 |
| Dividing Debts at Divorce | p. 368 |
| Dividing Debts When There's Nothing to Fight Over | p. 369 |
| Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney | p. 370 |
| Questions to Ask a Bankruptcy Attorney | p. 370 |
18 | Child Support and Alimony: What Might I Pay or Receive? | p. 373 |
| Child Support-Legal, Financial, and Emotional Realities | p. 375 |
| Steps to a Settlement | p. 380 |
| Alimony-Legal, Financial, and Emotional Realities | p. 401 |
| Steps to a Settlement | p. 403 |
| Questions to Ask an Attorney | p. 418 |
19 | Negotiating and Finalizing the Best Possible Settlement | p. 419 |
| Have You Done Your Financial Homework? | p. 421 |
| Tallying Your Marital Balance Sheet | p. 421 |
| How Are the Offers and Counteroffers Made? | p. 426 |
| How Do You Finalize the Settlement? | p. 429 |
| Divorce Ceremonies | p. 431 |
20 | After the Divorce: How Do I Get From "We" to "Me"? | p. 433 |
| How Do I Finish the Business of Divorce? | p. 434 |
| Can I-Or My Ex-Spouse-Change the Settlement? | p. 439 |
| What Do I Want to Do With My Life? | p. 441 |
| If You Find a New Love, Protect Your Old Assets ... and Your Alimony | p. 449 |
| How Can I Move Beyond the Divorce? | p. 453 |
| Appendix | p. 457 |
| Law Libraries | p. 458 |
| Lawyers and Typing Services | p. 460 |
| Online Legal Resources | p. 463 |
| Additional Resources | p. 463 |
| Present Value Factors | p. 467 |
| Future Value Factors | p. 473 |
| List of Professional Advisers | p. 479 |
| Index | p. 483 |