To truly break free from your ex-spouse, once you are divorced, you should at least review your estate planning documents. Chances are that your ex-spouse is named a beneficiary in your will and insurance policies. Do you want your ex-spouse to benefit from your death should something happen to you? If the answer is “no” then you should consider changing those documents to reflect your current situation.

While staying in the family home may seem like a good idea, either to provide some stability for the children during an already tumultuous time or to avoid the added hassle or expense of having to find a new place to live and moving there – all too frequently hanging on to the family home turns into a costly mistake.

Separating or getting divorced from a long-time spouse or partner is never easy. But it does not need to be harder than necessary. There are always steps you can take to avoid making it more difficult for both you and your partner.