Going through a divorce can be stressful, and it can have a significant emotional and financial toll on your life. You may not necessarily consider how ending your marriage can affect your credit score until you see the effects of a decrease when applying for a loan or credit card.

Your credit score refers to a number that is based on an analysis of your credit information, and this number represents your creditworthiness. That is, your credit score reflects the probability that you will repay a debt or loan, such as a mortgage. According to FICO, which calculates credit scores in the United States, the amount of debt you have makes up 30 percent of your credit score. Therefore, the lower your debt, the higher your credit score. Protecting your credit during your divorce is essential for maintaining a secure financial future.

Tips For Protecting Your Credit

During your divorce, it is important to consider all the ways your finances may be affected. For example, if a joint account from your marriage is left open, your ex-spouse may miss a payment, default on the loan, or add to the balance owed. If both of your names are still on the account, you will be held responsible for the debt, even if you did not use this credit card or bank account.

After you have gone through divorce and are paying or receiving child support, there may come a time when you believe the amount you pay or the child receives should be adjusted. In Illinois, this may be done through a modification review process.

When Can I Have My Child Support Order Modified?

Under Illinois family law, an order for child support is eligible for modification review every three years, or when there is a significant change in either parent’s income or in the needs of the child. In the case of a three-year review, a parent will receive a letter from the agency in charge, informing them of the right to request a review.

Who Conducts the Modification Review?

Modification reviews of child support orders in Illinois are done by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). The agency is tasked with the responsibility to make sure child support orders are consistent with applicable Illinois law and changed circumstances involving all concerned.

Prenuptial agreements are often associated with very wealthy individuals, and people who seek a prenup may be seen as believing that their marriage will not last. Because of this, a stigma was attached to these agreements, but this has changed over time, and prenuptial agreements are becoming more and more common.

When Is a Prenuptial Agreement Appropriate?

Nowadays, it is routine for marrying couples to discuss, agree to, and sign a prenuptial agreement before they exchange marriage vows and seal their marriage. A prenuptial agreement may be appropriate in a variety of situations, including:

• One spouse has significantly more assets than the other spouse. In this case, it behooves the spouse with significantly more assets to have a prenuptial agreement in place to protect against the incidental or deliberate inclusion of their assets as marital property in a potential divorce. Ordinarily, assets obtained before a couple’s marriage are considered non-marital property and therefore not subject to division or sharing after divorce.

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While some people who get married may be doubtful that the marriage will last, the expectation for nearly all couples who marry is that their marriage will last a lifetime.

However, the reality of marriage in America is that more than 22 percent of first marriages end in divorce within five years, and 53 percent of marriages dissolve by the 20-year mark, according to the latest available data from the government. No matter the length of a marriage, one common issue that often arises during divorce is how to handle the division of marital property.

What Constitutes Marital Property?

The first question to determine when addressing property division is what is considered marital property as defined under Illinois law. The law defines marital property as “all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage.” Examples of common marital property include physical possessions such as homes, automobiles, and other assets of value. Marital property also includes monetary assets such as retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs, pensions, stocks and bonds, and life insurance benefits.

The decision to end a marriage is a momentous one, and most couples do not make this choice lightly. Many spouses choose to go to couples’ counseling before they decide to divorce. A new trend in therapy involves both parents and children, and it is often referred to as family counseling. This type of therapy can help families before, during, and after a divorce. It provides an outlet for parents and their children to share what is on their minds in a neutral setting.

Benefits of Family Therapy

Divorce is not easy under any circumstances, especially when children are involved. Children often have a difficult time during their parents’ divorce, since they do not have a choice in the decision. However, family counseling can help ease the distress that comes with the end of a marriage, and it can offer everyone ways to move forward in a healthy manner.

For families that are going through a difficult divorce, counseling can help family members communicate better during conflict. Parents will learn techniques for how to calmly talk to each other without getting overly emotional. During and after divorce, it is likely the children will have to split time between the two parents, and they may even have to move out of the marital home altogether. This can be very traumatic for them, and family therapy can provide them with a way to talk about their feelings instead of keeping them bottled inside.