A daunting part of a separation or divorce for most couples is sorting out the finances. Financial disputes can be a major stumbling block in the divorce process and could take longer than the divorce itself.

The choices and decisions that you make will have an important influence on your financial well-being for many years to come. Divorced or separated people are twice as likely to have no savings or investments compared with those who are married (32% vs. 14%), according to research by Zurich UK.

Post-divorce financial considerations

1. Create a new budget

With your household income being impacted, it’s essential to go through your finances. Creating a budget sheet will help you to keep track of your incomings and outgoings.

2. Protect your credit score

You’ll be surprised at how many financial products and agreements you share with your ex-partner, from utility bills to mortgage repayments and credit cards, so it’s worth checking your credit record. Your credit report will list the details of every financial agreement you have. This will help protect your credit score from anomalous payments on the part of your former spouse.

3. Close joint accounts and open new ones in your name

It’s really important to make sure that all joint credit cards and accounts are closed, paid off in full or at the very least changed to either your name or your former partner’s.

4. Think about your pension

Your pension is probably the last thing on your mind, but it’s essential for your future that you plan ahead. You and your partner may have built up a strong pension pot, so it’s important to pay particular attention to how this is divided, to make sure you are getting the best outcome. It’s particularly important for women who may depend on their husband’s provisions for their retirement, as they could be in for a nasty shock.

5. Make the most of your protection cover

Many protection policies contain valuable support or counselling benefits that can provide vital help or advice if you are going through a divorce. This support can cover areas from financial to legal to emotional support. Protection can also play a key role in covering any maintenance liabilities for an agreed period, such as when children reach 18, in the event of severe illness or even death.

7. Update your Will

Once you are divorced or separated, your existing Will is unlikely to be appropriate to your new circumstances. Make sure you update this as soon as possible to ensure that your wishes are followed.

Taking a long-term view

Divorce can be an incredibly challenging time, both emotionally and financially. Understandably, the focus is naturally on splitting immediate assets, but it’s important that the long-term is also part of the planning. In fact, after the family home, a pension can actually be the biggest asset at stake, so protecting this in the first instance is crucial.

Source data:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,073 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25 and 26 October 2016. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
900 adult participants (19-55+) who are representative of the general population took part in the Mindlab experiment in the UK from 25-26 October 2016.