The time during and after a divorce poses a lot of questions and uncertainties, such as, “Where do I live now?” If you are only separated, the worst idea is to purchase property. The reason? Imagine the ordeal if the two reconcile and now you’re stuck with a mortgage on a home or condo. One option is to look for corporate housing. Corporate rentals are furnished properties that can be rented on a monthly basis. This is a great option until you figure out where you stand financially.

What you shouldn’t do is rush into purchasing property, burden friends, sign a long-term lease, or stay at a hotel. Who knows how long your divorce process will take. You might wear out your welcome quickly among friends. A typical lease is 12 months long, but you do not know where you will be in that amount of time. Hotels are a no-no mainly because during an emotional and troubling time, you don’t want to live out of a suitcase and feel like you have no home. Plus it’s very costly.

Temporary housing will make you feel less like a transient and will be easier on the entire family. Don’t begin any long-term housing searches until the divorce is complete and you feel ready to move on with your life.

For more divorce advice and divorce info, visit PrepareForDivorce.com.

Here’s some divorce advice you may not have known, there are many different types of alimony. How is alimony determined? Just like most divorce laws, alimony laws vary from state-to-state. It is also based upon the income of those involved, the length of their marriage, and their lifestyle. The purpose of alimony is that each party is able to be on an equal footing.

The types of alimony are as follows:

1. Temporary: Typically paid from the time of the first hearing until the divorce is officially finalized. It can also be retroactive, back to the time it was first requested. One of the parties can be asked to make payments on the mortgage, insurance, car, etc.
2. Rehabilitative: Meant as a way for one party to help the other become qualified or re-established in a profession. These payments can go towards school, getting licensed, or to have funds to pay the bills during this time. The goal is that one party is able to become self-sufficient.
3. Lump Sum: The party will receive a one-time payment that will put both parties in an equal position financially.
4. Permanent: Payments will continue to be made until either the parties pass away or the one receiving payments remarries.

Finances are a big topic when it comes to divorce advice for men and women alike. Both parties are worried about money before, during, and after the process. If it appears you’re going to soon take the plunge, here are some steps to better prepare yourself for the rocky financial road ahead.

1. Start with a copy of your credit report from all three reporting agencies. This is the easiest way to check on each account in your name. You may be surprised to learn about joint accounts you weren’t aware existed. It will also reveal any outstanding balances on loans, mortgages, and credit cards.
2. Open a credit card in your name and a bank account if you haven’t already done so previously. Do so before the divorce because once it is official, it might be harder to open up a credit card.
3. Assess retirement. If you’ve been planning to retire soon, you will need to look into your retirement savings and package. Get in contact with the Social Security Administration to see what benefits you are eligible for.
4. Document your possessions. Any assets you acquired before marriage should be yours to keep after the divorce. Anything in a joint account, even if it is yours, will be joint property and the court will treat it as such.

As the divorce process begins, finances and children are what’s on everyone’s mind. Who will get the children? How will their time between parents be split up? When it comes to custody, the courts actually rule on legal and physical custody. Each meaning something very different. Legal custody refers to who is responsible for the decisions concerning the children’s health, education, and welfare. Physical custody refers to who the children are living with.

Joint legal custody means both parents have a say in the decision making and sole legal custody means only one parent does. Similarly, joint physical custody means each parent will have a significant amount of time with their children. Primary custody means the children will spend most of their time with only one parent and have visitations with the other.

It is possible for there to be joint legal custody with one parent having primary physical custody. It simply means both have a say in the decisions but the child lives with only one of his parents. The courts will always decide which situation they deem is best for the children, regardless of what the parents themselves think is right.

Read more about divorce info and divorce advice by visiting PrepareForDivorce.com.

Going through a divorce is hard enough to deal with, but imagine what your children are going through too. Explaining divorce to young children can be extremely difficult and sometimes uncomfortable. While you might think explaining everything is a good idea, it’s actually a terrible idea. In times of divorce, less information for your children is better. For example, it’s not very wise to explain to a 10 year old that you’re divorcing because your spouse cheated on you. This can easily lead to resentment between the child and your spouse.

Never explain the details about child support either or about missed payments. Children don’t want to feel like they’re being purchased. It should come as no surprise that you should avoid fighting in front of the children. It’s not healthy for them and you don’t want them to overhear the details about the divorce. The best thing to do is to tell them you and your spouse have problems that cannot be worked out and you need to live separately. Always reassure them that you and your spouse love them and both of you will be here for the children.

Give them time to adjust to lifestyle changes. You don’t want them to ever feel like they have to choose sides. As they get older, you can feel free to explain more about the divorce info to them as you see fit.

Learn more advice on divorce by visiting PrepareForDivorce.com.

Dating after a divorce can be a scary situation. Most feel a sigh of relief when they get married knowing they don’t have to go through the process again. But lo and behold, here you are, ready to embark on new dating journeys. But here are five considerations to keep in mind when you feel you are ready to date again.

1. Improve yourself before starting a new relationship. You need to work on your personal issues and feel confident enough in your own skin before you get involved with someone new.
2. Get involved with people who have good self esteem. At this stage in life, do you really want to deal with someone who is too needy and dependent? You deserve someone with his head on his shoulders.
3. If you don’t feel ready, don’t date. It’s as simple as that. Only you will know when you’re ready so don’t let others tell you to hop back into the game too quickly.
4. Recognize when it’s time to stop. If you begin to feel rushed, don’t be afraid to stop. It’s good to test the waters first, but figure out if you can take the plunge.
5. Find a connection with someone because infatuation doesn’t last. After a stressful divorce, you need some stability in your life. A person whom you really get along with.

More helpful divorce advice for women can be found at PrepareForDivore.com, the best source for sound divorce info.

Considering that you can pretty much do anything online, it should come as no surprise that you can even get a divorce online. But before you hop on the inter-web path, you should read over this list of online divorce advice.

1. 1. Whoever files for the divorce must pay for the fee. Reach an  agreement beforehand and divvy up this cost afterward.
2. Each state has different rules. Just because you’re filing online doesn’t mean you’re suddenly exempt from state rules and regulations. You both must be a resident of the state for a minimum period.
3.  Even though you’re filing online, that doesn’t mean the rules of divorce change. Shared debt during your marriage will still be shared after it is over.
4.  If your spouse decides to contest the divorce, you will need to go to court—so don’t assume you’ll never have to step foot inside one.
5.  This shouldn’t come as a shock…beware of scams! Any ad that claims your spouse doesn’t have to appear is a scam, not to mention illegal. Some quickie divorces might only be legal in the country they are issued. So
   if you were to re-marry in another country, that would be considered bigamy.
6.  Online divorce is an easy option when the divorce is uncontested. The moment your spouse wants to argue something, you will end up in court.

For many couples, separation seems like a precursor to filing for divorce. However, many couples simply separate on their own without actually filing or a a legal separation (there is a difference!). In order to be considered legally separated, the couple must be living apart, and they have petitioned to family court to recognize their separation. A separation agreement must also be created and signed by both parties. The agreement is similar to that of a divorce settlement. The document essentially details how particular matters will be handled, such as spousal support, child support, living arrangements, property division, etc. It is recommended to have an attorney look over the document before signing it.

If you’re considering legal separation, there are a few factors to keep in mind. If you’re moving out of your marital home (and it is a rental) have the landlord draw up a new lease without your name on it. If your spouse stops payments, you won’t have to deal with the repercussions. Cancel or freeze any joint bank accounts and credit cards. It’s best to separate all finances. Either open a PO box or leave a forwarding address so you do not have to see your spouse for your mail. Finally, check your insurance coverage. Some couples choose separation so they can still receive insurance coverage, but some companies might terminate the policy even with a separation.

Visit PreparedForDivorce.com to learn more about divorce advice and divorce info.

It’s not surprising that you may be feeling depressed or having anxiety and panic attacks because of the stress of a divorce. According to the Surgeon General, about 30-40% of people undergoing a divorce suffer from symptoms of depression and anxiety. Anxiety and panic attack symptoms include sweating, chills, chest pain, and nausea. If the divorce is severely affecting your health, follow this divorce advice:

1. Know that the wide range of emotions is normal. You will be going through many feelings and each must be brought to the surface.
2. Let yourself mourn. Your marriage is over and you’re supposed to feel sad and angry. Let these emotions come through. You need to cope with them.
3. Be mindful of your thoughts. Your thoughts are often the cause of an anxiety attack. When you constantly worry you can create a biochemical reaction that will cause an attack.
4. Practice stress management. Sign up for yoga, take long walks, meditate, exercise, and go to bed early.
5. Have a strong support team. Reach out to the people you know you can count on. Surround yourself by people who love you and can help you get through this rough time.
6. Seek outside help. If symptoms are worsening, they can really interfere with your life and that’s the time when you need professional help.

With all the emotional and physical stress you’re feeling during a divorce, the first thought in your mind probably isn’t to change your last name back. But once the smoke has cleared, you can find the time to go through the process. It’s never too late to change your name back. It’s not something you have to do with your lawyer during the actual divorce. It can be done 3 months or 3 years after your divorce. Going back to your maiden name might actually give you closure. It’s a return to your self and can be a step towards recovery.

You can either search online for the form (search “name change” and your state) or you can get the form from the County Clerk’s Office. But even if you print out a form, you will still have to bring the completed form to the office. Once you receive a copy of the processed form, you can then begin changing your name on other documents. It’s best to start with your driver’s license and then you can gradually move onto banks, credit cards, Social Security, etc.

Changing your name shouldn’t be done on a whim and some may choose to never do it. It’s up to you what you feel comfortable with. Keep in mind that you can always find plenty of excellent divorce advice and divorce info at PrepareForDivorce.com.