by Cathi Adams © 2004 All Rights Reserved

Do you believe in "Happily ever after" or "Until Death Do Us Part?"

From the time we are little girls, women are taught to believe in the fairy tale union of a man and a woman who love each other.
Many women never let go of the fantasy, and when they find the man they want to marry, the end caption on their lives seems like it will be, "And they lived happily ever after." Unfortunately, statistics show that at least 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Some women are left without important job skills and barely enough money to support themselves, much less several children.

I find it interesting that women plan for earthquakes and floods,fire and medical emergencies, spending thousands of dollars to insure themselves against catastrophic events that have low odds of ever occurring, yet they fail to plan for the highly possible event of divorce. Of course, no woman wants to think that her marriage will be the one out of two that ends in divorce, but when the signs begin to present themselves, planning for divorce is as important as trying to save the marriage. Your future depends on it. Let me ask you...

Do you know the answers to these questions?

1. How much does your husband make?
2. What does his retirement plan offer?
3. How much does he have in savings?
4. What are his investments?
5. Where are his investments?
5. What does the family owe on mortgage, business debt and credit cards?

These are just some of the questions you need to find answers to. Most importantly, you need to know these answers BEFORE you announce your decision to divorce.

This information is essential to getting what you deserve in the settlement, so don’t leave home without it.

So when it comes down to making the final decision to divorce, quell any urge to scream "This marriage is over!" pack your bags and slam the door on your way out. The final decision to leave takes time, and to announce your decision also takes time and preparation. With the right planning and preparation, you can save money to pay the lawyer, fund your living expenses, and give yourself a positive financial future.