1What Should You Do First? -- 1 -- Divorce Is Like Riding an Escalator... -- ...While Also Climbing Up Some Very Steep Stairs -- Divorce Comes in Many Different Forms -- Get Organized as Soon as Possible -- Corporate Wife -- Wife as Alpha Earner -- What Is the First Step? -- 2 Five Emotional Stages of Divorce -- 11 -- Emotional Stages of Divorce -- A Maze of Emotions: Depression, Anger, and Lack of Control -- 1 Pre-Divorce -- 2 Decision -- 3 Final Acceptance -- 4 Mourning -- 5 Re-Equilibrium -- Most Often Asked Questions About Divorce -- 3 How to Choose the Divorce Process That Best Suits You -- 33 -- Differences Between States Are Important -- Which Method Is Best for Your Situation? -- Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring an Attorney -- Checklist for the Initial Meeting with Your Attorney -- Janice's Decision: Mediation -- 4 Financial Implications of Contemporary Relationships -- 49 -- Why We Get Divorced -- Contemporary Relationships -- 5 Living with Change Does Not Mean Dealing with an Enemy -- 71 -- No Fraternization! -- Don't Talk to Him About the Divorce Case on Your Own -- Don't Let Him Come Between You and Your Lawyer -- Watch Out for Late-Night Telephone Calls -- What Not to Talk About -- Dealing with Your Husband -- 6 What Determines the Cost of the Divorce? -- 81 -- Using Multiple Experts -- Working with a Team -- Uncooperative Spouses -- Complications with Children -- A Road Map for Divorce -- Phase 1 Preparation: 0 to 30 Days -- Phase 2 Initiation: 0 to 60 Days -- Phase 3 Analysis and Planning: 30 Days to 9 Months -- Phase 4 Negotiation-Settlement: 30 to 60 Days -- Phase 5 Implementation: 30 to 90 Days -- Document Roundup List -- Your Decisions to Make -- 7 Budget Process -- 123 -- Budgeting Session One -- Budgeting Session Two -- Budgeting Session Three -- Budgeting Session Four -- Budget Maintenance -- Postdivorce Budget Questions -- Cash Management System-Today and in the Future -- Protecting Yourself Financially During and After Divorce -- Identity Theft and Divorce -- Protect Your Credit Report -- Best Defense Is Vigilance -- 8 Closing In on Disparity: A New Era Deserves A New Divorce Model -- 159 -- New Era Needs a New Model -- Alimony Theories: Old and New -- Cultural Trends and Their Effect on Divorce -- Securing an Equitable and Stable Postdivorce Life -- Recommendations for Settlement Proposals -- An Ultimate Solution to the Disparity of Earnings? -- 9 Financial and Tax Checkpoints Along the Way to the Property Settlement -- 177 -- What Will Postdivorce Life Be Like? -- Sale of the Family Residence-Are You Money Poor and House Rich? -- Tax Considerations of Other Assets in Divorce -- Income Tax Returns -- 10 Divorced Women, Pensions, and Avoiding Poverty in the Golden Years -- 197 -- Retirement Benefits Are Not What They Used to Be -- How to Value a Pension Benefit -- Retirement Assets Divided with a QDRO -- Retirement Assets Divided Without a QDRO -- Other Types of Retirement Plans -- Accessing Retirement Funds Postdivorce -- 11 Preparing for Life After Divorce: Restricted Securities, Insurance, Housing, Debt, and Estate Planning -- 219 -- Stock Options and Restricted Stock -- Reviewing Your Insurance Needs -- Adjusting Maintenance for Inflation -- Postdivorce Housing Issues -- Dividing Debt -- Divorce and Bankruptcy -- Estate Planning During and After Divorce -- Prenuptial Agreements as a Component of Retirement Plans -- 12 Women and Investing -- 243 -- What Does Money Mean to You? -- Bonds Versus Stocks-To "Loan" or to "Own"? -- Risk Versus Return -- Retirement Funds: How Much Is Enough? -- When to Change Investment Options -- Ready to Invest? -- Choosing a Financial Advisor -- Appendix A Economically Disadvantaged Spouse: Case Study-Jake and Judith Jessup -- 263 -- Appendix B Long-Term Marriage and Divorce: Case Study-Gerald and Barbara Hudson -- 295 -- Appendix C Role of the Career Specialist in Divorce -- 319.