Putting a team in place when going through a divorce

Many high achievers try to navigate everything on their own, including divorce. However, when surveyed, many people who went through a divorce, wish that they had hired more people to help them in the process. There are a range of professionals available to help depending on the complexity of the situation. This article provides an overview of some of the resources you, or your loved ones should consider, when going through a divorce.

Building a legal team

Many of the following professionals have an overlap in responsibilities, all are not likely needed:

Divorce attorney: Ensures all the legal requirements are met for the state to dissolve the marriage. May advise on tax, valuation, budget and other issues—reducing the number of professionals needed. It’s critical they have the right experience for the specific situation and is worth the time and investment to interview a few to find the best fit both in expertise and in demeanor.

Estate planning attorney: Addresses what happens if a party is incapacitated or passes away. They provide guidance on the titling of assets and estate planning documents during and post-divorce to ensure everything is in line with your wishes.

Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®): Addresses the unique tax and financial issues of a divorce while analyzing the short- and long-term financial impact of different divorce settlements.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP®): Advises on overall financial health, budget and your plans for future goals. It is helpful if they are familiar with the unique issues of divorce.

Child Specialist: Assists in creating a parenting plan to help maintain the well-being of children involved in a divorce.

Other divorce professionals include CPAs, actuaries, certified appraisers, banker/mortgage broker/Certified Divorce Lending Professionals (CDLP), Insurance brokers, Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), and private investigators.

Building a support network

Of course, sometimes the harder part of getting a divorce has little to do with the business side of things but rather the emotional aspects of it. It is helpful to have a good support network during a process that can often be an emotional roller coaster.

Therapist/Counselor: Most spouses and kids significantly benefit from working with a therapist experienced in divorce issues. Most important, however, is that you feel extremely comfortable talking to them.

Divorce coach: A growing number of people are hiring divorce coaches to help them to prioritize and get organized to make the best possible decisions for the future. A divorce coach works alongside the divorce attorney to support, focus and motivate during the tough times.

Friends and family: Although these people are not for hire, they can be an invaluable source of support during divorce. For a variety of reasons, telling close friends that you’re going through a divorce is a difficult thing. However, choosing a select group of friends and family members you can rely on for support, to vent to, or just grab a drink/coffee with is very important. 

Asking for help is sometimes the hardest part of any difficulty in life and divorce has a ripple effect on the extended family and friends. CI Private Wealth is here to support you and anyone you care about. Contact your wealth manager for a list of Divorce Professional Interview Questions and other divorce resources.

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