Your Divorce Team: Who to Engage & When

When it comes to divorce, you don’t have to go through it alone. 

Along with the experts and community here at My Next Chapter, consider engaging with the following professionals:

Need to have

These are your essential players — or perhaps we should say player. Yep, there's just one person you 100 percent need to have on your team: your divorce attorney.

Divorce attorney

Your attorney will provide you with legal advice, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you should your divorce case go to court. Even if you and your spouse are amicable and go the DIY Divorce route, you’ll still want to hire an attorney, if only to review the terms of your divorce. 

Nice to have

These are your second lineup of players. They’re helpful to have on your side when you’re in the thick of it, but they’re not always necessary. Of course, every divorce is different, so do your research and if there’s an area you need more support with, consider hiring one or more of these professionals.

Financial adviser or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)

How do you split your debts, your retirement savings, your investment properties? How much is your spouse’s business valued at? How much will you need to live for the next year? Five years? Ten years? What if you suspect your spouse is concealing money? All these questions and more are what a financial adviser or CDFA can answer for you. Even if your finances are relatively cut and dried, it's a good idea to consult with a financial professional. They’re trained in these situations and might catch something you hadn’t thought about.

Mental-health professional

For a lot of people, mental health can take a major hit when going through a divorce. And those in a high-conflict divorce may experience this to an even greater degree. If either of these describe your situation, you will likely need professional support. This is especially true in high-conflict divorces, since they may be associated with certain personality disorders including borderline-, narcissistic-, or antisocial-personality disorder. 

Real-estate agent (divorce specialist)

If selling the marital home or buying something new is part of your divorce plan, you might want to consider hiring an real-estate agent trained in the legal and emotional complications that arise in divorce. These professionals will work with both divorcing parties, ensuring each of you is fairly represented in the process, even in high-conflict divorces. 

Tax professional

Divorce has both immediate and delayed effects on your finances. Immediate in terms of what you and your spouse walk away with; delayed in how divorce can impact your taxes. For example, maybe you no longer qualify for a specific tax credit or perhaps you incur a capital-gains tax over transfer of ownership. A chartered professional accountant or tax attorney can help clear things...