Divorces involve major transitions, sometimes including children, and always involving finances of some sort.
The premise of this post is that someone going through a divorce may want to include a therapist and a financial planner in their team. In fact, it is best to flip the paradigm, and assume that you should involve a therapist and a financial planner unless…
Involve a therapist unless…
- You don’t have minor children; AND
- You are not struggling with your mental health in general; AND
- You are not struggling with your mental health during the onset of the divorce and the course of the divorce process.
You MAY not need a therapist if 2 and 3 are not an issue (i.e., you are not struggling with your mental health), AND your kids are doing OK, AND you get along well with your co-parent. But that’s a lot of ifs.
Involve a financial planner unless…
- You are not financially dependent on your spouse for basic living expenses; AND
- You do not have anyone who is financially dependent on you; AND
- You have a moderately-good-to-excellent handle on your long-term finances and retirement.
You MAY not need a financial planner if you are self-supporting and expect to be self-supporting in the indefinite future.
One final thought: if you are on the fence about involving a therapist or a financial planner, it is advisable to at least seek someone out to consult. Consulting with a professional, even briefly, is a good way to confirm which is the best option. Better to consult with someone than not to do so and wish that you had.