This is one of the first questions I hear from women facing divorce.  This is the first place that we start when working together. When we solve this, the rest of the journey will be far less scary.

Our first priority is helping you to take care of yourself and your family. We want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Once we determine these things then I can help you protect yourself financially. Long-term relationships that encourage open and honest communication are the cornerstone to our success. 

It is common to want to stay in the marital home in order to retain some sense of normalcy.  The important thing to consider is the ability to keep up with the costs of the home after the divorce is final.  The last thing you want is to go bankrupt because you kept the house.  By working together we can determine the potential costs and taxes of any decision you make.

You may be frustrated because the retirement account that you have been saving into out of your paycheck now has to be split in half.  A common concern is the ability to still retire at the age and lifestyle you desire after a divorce.  We will first run a retirement needs analysis. We will take into consideration assets you will potentially have after the divorce is final, as well as the effects of social security benefits.

We will begin to answer this question by gathering your financial documents.  The same money that supported one household will now have to support two separate households.  We will evaluate your options, help you to understand what you have and how much it will cost you to live.  This information can help in looking at potential settlements and determine what you will be able to afford.