Getting Divorced

Planning for a Divorce: Let’s Talk Strategies

planning for a divorce
Tracy Coenen
By Tracy L. CoenenCPA, CFF, Forensic Accountant, Founder, Divorce Money Guide, Divorced Girl Smiling Trusted Professional

When you’re facing divorce, it feels like a million things are hitting you all at once. Legal papers you don’t understand, money questions that keep you up at night, emotional conversations that leave you drained. It’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed and stuck in reaction mode. But here’s what most women don’t realize: Divorce isn’t something that just happens to you, in fact, planning for a divorce is entirely possible and it’s not as difficult as you think.

In planning for a divorce, taking a strategic approach puts YOU in control. It helps you make smarter decisions, protect your financial future, and move forward with actual confidence, not just fake-it-till-you-make-it courage.

Why Strategy Matters in Planning for a Divorce

Without a clear plan, divorce quickly becomes one emergency after another. You’re always responding to whatever your husband, your attorney, or the court throws at you. Before you know it, you’re making huge life decisions based on how you feel at 2:00 am when you can’t sleep.

But with a strategy? Everything changes. You stop feeling like you’re drowning in the process. You know where you’re headed, what you need, and how to protect yourself every step of the way.

A strong strategy allows you to:

  • Focus on what actually matters, not just the crisis of the moment
  • Get your money situation organized before negotiations start
  • Talk clearly with friends, family, and divorce professionals
  • Know all the facts about your situation before you make big decisions
  • Make choices based on your future, not just your hurt or anger right now

Building Your Divorce Strategy (No Law Degree Required)

You don’t need to be a legal genius to have a smart approach. A good divorce strategy starts with a few simple but powerful steps. First, secure your digital life. Change your passwords. Close shared accounts when possible. Lock down your online information. These might seem like small moves, but they prevent big headaches later.

Next, build your support team. You need the right people around you. Friends and family give emotional support, but professionals like attorneys, money advisors, and therapists help you tackle the complicated stuff.

Then, gather your financial paperwork. Collect bank statements, tax returns, and information about your debts right away. This gives you a clear picture of your situation and saves you from panic-searching for documents later. Having a simple organization system for your documents along with a checklist to help you keep track of what you’ve gotten will make this process much easier.

As you’re going through the divorce process, it is important to know what goals you have for yourself and your children. Yes, your goals matter. Divorce means making hundreds of decisions. You need to be very clear on what you truly want and what you can be flexible about. This keeps you from fighting battles that don’t actually help you in the long run.

Finally, think beyond your divorce. Plan for what comes next… your budget, savings, and financial security. This sets you up for a stronger life afterward. Divorce is a temporary situation, and it’s important to focus on the long-term picture and the life you are going to have afterward.

Getting Help With Your Strategy

Creating a plan doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself. There are tools made specifically to help women get organized for divorce. For example, the Divorce STRATEGY Guide walks you through protecting your personal information, building your support team, organizing your money documents, and setting your goals. It cuts through the confusion and is your shortcut to clarity, confidence, and control in your divorce.

Whether you use a guide like this, work with a divorce coach, or make your own written plan, having a clear strategy makes all the difference.

Take Control of Your Divorce Journey

Let’s be real, divorce is tough. But you’re not just going through it. You’re going to win it. This isn’t about being nice or taking the high road while getting less than you deserve. This is about being smart, strategic, and setting yourself up for the best possible outcome.

Remember: You only get ONE chance to get the right divorce settlement. The decisions made now will shape your financial future and peace of mind for years to come. Don’t leave that to chance.

Having a solid strategy means you can make show up prepared for everything in your divorce and you can make decisions without second-guessing yourself. The more you prepare now, the more control you’ll have – not just over the divorce process, but over the new life you’re building for yourself afterward.

Like this article? Check out: “5 Money Mistakes Women Make in Divorce”

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Tracy Coenen
Tracy L. CoenenCPA, CFF, Forensic Accountant, Founder, Divorce Money Guide, Divorced Girl Smiling Trusted Professional

You CAN find the hidden money and understand your family’s finances without spending thousands of dollars on a forensic accountant. Discover all the assets you’re entitled to and get the divorce settlement you deserve by downloading The Divorce Money Guide!

One of the most stressful aspects of getting divorced is feeling like your spouse might be hiding money. To hire a forensic accountant (or to have your divorce attorney do that) can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and a lot of people either can’t afford that, or they don’t think it’s worth it because it’s so costly. Well, the Divorce Money Guide has you covered!

Developed by well-known Forensic Accountant, Tracy Coenen, the Divorce Money Guide is a tool to help you find out if your ex is hiding money. It’s a 10-step handbook that walks you through what to do to find the money. You walk away with either a complete sense of relief because you now know he/she isn’t hiding money, or you walk away with proof to give to your attorney, who can now take action to make sure your divorce is fair and equitable. Get the Divorce Money Guide here.

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