Financial Tips to Follow During a Separation with your Spouse

If you are going through a separation with your spouse, it is crucial that you know which steps you must follow to sort of your finances. This can be a huge source of stress and contention during a breakup, which is all the more reason to get this information as soon as possible. These tips will help you to get through this very difficult time in your life without having to worry about losing more than you need to.

Decide How to handle your Separation

While solicitors are typically used in a divorce, this is not the case with a simple separation. It is, however, still important that you get the necessary legal and financial advice. It is especially important to speak with one of these professionals if you and your ex can’t agree on what to do with your debts or the home you lived in together.

There are a couple of different ways to go about approaching a separation. You can choose to speak with a solicitor, which is the best course of action if you believe they will make a claim against you. There is also a mediator, who can help both of you to reach a consensus on your finances.

It is always best to not involve a solicitor so you can save as much money as possible. Hiring one of these professionals is usually very expensive and can extend the entire process considerably.

Look at Your Finances Together

You will need to sit down with your ex-partner and come to an agreement on various aspects of your finances.

We highly recommend that you follow these steps:

• Write out a list of all your possessions and any money you might owe to creditors. This includes the total amount in your savings account as well as your home equity. While the person who owns the asset is usually entitled to keep it, the other person can still make a claim.
• You might want to use a professional if you aren’t sure what your assets are worth. If you are unsure about the value of your home, you can always speak to a real estate agent to get this information.
• Start talking about how you want to divide up your assets. You will also need to determine who will be responsible for paying which bills and debts. If you have a joint bank account, you will have to determine how much you and your ex will each get.

When You Should Turn to a Financial Adviser

There are certain circumstances in which it is a good idea to hire a financial and perhaps legal adviser during a separation with your spouse. If you have taken out a loan on behalf of your partner that they aren’t willing or able to pay, this sort of assistance is necessary. It is also a good idea to seek help from a professional if you do not own the home but plan on filing a claim for it anyway. If you have a joint mortgage, working out the details can be tricky. This is another situation that requires the help of a legal or financial expert. There are also websites such as Focus Mag that have informative articles that may help.

Paying Legal Fees

If you are in a situation where you need to hire a solicitor, there will be some fairly steep fees that you’ll likely need to pay. It is important that you take the time to consider your options as to how you are going to pay these fees.

• Zero-percent interest credit card: You should consider getting a 0% interest credit card to cover some or all of your legal fees. You won’t have to worry about paying any interest for the agreed upon period of time.
• Personal loan: Some people actually take out personal loans to pay for legal fees in a separation or divorce situation. You will have to make fixed payments each month until the full amount of your loan is paid off. Make sure to look into some of the different lenders before selecting one to borrow from.
• Credit unions: A credit union is typically the first place you should go when you need to borrow money. These financial institutions can only charge up to a certain amount of interest by law.

Talk to Your Mortgage Provider

One important aspect of protecting your finances during a separation is to get in touch with your mortgage provider. You just have to tell them about your situation and explain that you might have difficulty making future payments. If you happen to have a joint mortgage, you will both have the same amount of responsibility for paying back the loan. There is a good chance that your lender can work with you in some way, so it is a good to be honest and straightforward with them.

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7 Things to Consider Before You Borrow Money

There are multiple things that you need to consider before borrowing any amount of money. If you don’t want your loan to completely backfire, it is important that you follow these simple steps. Most people borrow money without really thinking about first, and as a result they end up in debt for years. When you take the time to consider all of these things, you can increase your chances of getting the money you need with minimal fallout.

1. Do You Really Need to Borrow Money?

The very first thing that you will have to ask yourself before getting a loan is whether or not you have a real need for one. Consider other financing options, such as just saving up until you have enough for whatever you want. There is a chance that you don’t really need the loan but just want it. You also have to carefully determine whether or not you can pay back the money on time.

2. Use a Loan Calculator

One of the best ways to determine whether or not you can afford to pay back the loan you want is by using an online loan calculator.
You will have to submit the following details:

  • What you need the loan for.
  • How much the loan is going to be without interest.
  • The interest rate that you will pay on the loan.
  • The total amount of the payments you will have to make on the loan each month.

By using one of these online tools, you will get a better idea as to how much the loan is going to cost you and when you are going to pay it off.

3. Borrowing from Family and Friends

While a lot of people go right to a bank, credit union or payday lender like Omacl.co.uk for a loan, you might want to borrow from someone you know. There are advantages and disadvantages to doing this that you need to be fully aware of. If you are unable to pay back the loan, it can create quite a bit of tension between you and the other person.

4. Avoiding Hidden Fees

It is important that you know about all of the different fees that you will have to pay with the loan you get, assuming you are taking it out with a bank or credit union. If you are late paying back the loan, you will most likely be charged an additional fee. Make sure that you understand how much each fee will be so you know exactly what to expect. If you are borrowing money with a credit card, you will be charged a fee if you exceed your credit limit. Before you take out a loan, you should carefully read through the terms to see if there are any hidden fees at all.

5. Taking Out a Joint Loan

If you and your partner are taking out a joint loan, you will both be responsible for paying back the full amount. You won’t be allowed to take out a joint credit card, as it must be in the name of a single person. You may be able to increase your chances of getting approved for a loan if you apply jointly with your partner’s information as well.

6. The Total Cost of Borrowing

Many people don’t know about the true cost of borrowing money, whether it is with a personal loan or credit card. You will have to take into consideration the principal amount of the loan, any fees, the length of the loan period, and the interest rate. All of these will be important factors when it comes to how much you have to pay for your loan overall. Remember to factor these things in when determining if you can afford to pay the loan back.

7. Deciding on a Loan Term

It might be tempting to choose a longer repayment period for your loan, but that can mean spending more money on interest. A shorter-term loan means spending less, but you will need to make sure that you can repay the full amount on time. Take some time to figure out which option is right for you.

Making Your Loan Payments

You will also need to figure out how much money you are going to pay towards the loan you take out each month. It is always a good idea to pay more than the minimum. Check to see if your lender will penalize you for paying back the loan early. It is always a good idea to get a loan that doesn’t come with any early repayment fees. The larger your loan payments are, the less interest you will end up having to pay. If you want to get out of debt as quickly as possible, you will have to keep this piece of information in mind.

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