FAQs Written By Professionals in Florida

"My ex spouse always took care of our household expenses. Im feeling financially pressured.."

Start by taking a moment to relax and undertanding that you can do this. Many men and women have been in this same situation and have triumphed - and so can you! First of all, Dont pressure yourself by thinking about all your problems and worries and instead redirect that energy into thinking about what you can do to change the situation.

When you break down any big project into its basic parts, it is so much easier to understand and thus, manage. Refresh yourself and begin thinking about what the details of your 'project' is and possible ways it can get done. Now think about what expenses must be paid each month: rent, mortgage, car, food, utility, telephone, insurance, and credit cards just to name a few. In order to see what needs to be paid each month, ask yourself "Do I have the paid bills from past months? Do I have a check register? Do I have cancelled checks which I could review?" Then sit down and take out a peice of paper to begin listing items you know must be paid on a monthly basis and list their approximate amounts. Don’t worry about figuring everything out all at once. Take your time to calmly think about what bills you'll need to pay. Steadiness, patience, and constructive thinking are key.

Do you have a checking account? If so at what bank is it at and where is the check book?

Is that account still accessible or will you need to set up a new one? What about a savings account? Do you have an investment account? Which credit cards do you have? Once you figure out who needs to be paid, mailing address account numbers, and the approximate monthly amount, you will determine your total monthly expenses.

The next step is to determine where will the money to pay for those bills come from? Are you employed or do you receive investment income and/or is your spouse paying you support?

Also, never be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help or advice from trusted friends, relatives, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) ,or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) . People that you know and trust often help remarkably. Aditionally, experts such as a CPA and CDFA are also greatly helpful. The more you know regarding your situation before looking for help, the better you'll be. Try to pinpoint the areas where you could use the help of an expert to resolve. Are you going to be writing your checks by hand each month, or would you rather use a computer program such as Quicken to handle your bill paying and online banking? Just remember to know your situation and your plan well, and that you can do this as long as you focus your strengths on seeking help and answers rather than worrying and thinking negatively.