Don’t Be Emotional? Good Luck!

I stumbled across a column about divorce on a Web site that defines itself as "financial infotainment." So perhaps I shouldn't judge it too harshly, but there was something about the writer's simplistic approach that rubbed me the wrong way.

The column was on things to keep in mind as you're working out your finances during a divorce. And there was plenty of good information there: Organize your paperwork, close or freeze all joint accounts and credit cards, be aware of the tax implications of any property or assets you have to sell as part of the settlement, be clear about what you're seeking from your ex.

But there's a line in there where the writer says: "Divorce isn’t, or shouldn’t be about reprisal that quickly morphs into a form of insanity. Set your emotions aside because divorce is a simple division of assets. The law and the numbers are straightforward. The issues become complicated only when emotion overwhelms reason."

Clearly, these are the words of someone who hasn't been through a divorce. There is no setting your emotions aside. There's shutting down and going on auto pilot for weeks or months at a time. But if you and your ex are having to seek out lawyers in order to settle the money issues in your divorce, it's emotional and there's no way around it. End of story.

I get what the writer is trying to say. At a certain point, you have to put your head down and just get through the worst of it as best you can. But the way it was worded seemed to gloss over how emotionally complicated it can be.

Nonetheless, take a read through the column. Again, there's good advice there, and you can never have enough reminders of the financial keys to navigating a divorce.

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