Couples who don’t have any money are more likely to get divorced, the narrative goes, because they’re unable to make ends meet and they’re trying to better their lives. But is this narrative actually true? Money issues like this can cause divorce, but do not assume that having a larger amount of wealth is going to insulate you. In some ways, it can actually make divorce more likely.

When you’re going through a divorce, you may need to spend a significant amount of time with your attorney and other professionals who can assist with your finances and other aspects of the divorce. These fees can add up, so it’s sometimes a good idea to ask if your higher-earning spouse could be held accountable for those fees.

It’s very hard to get past something like this, even if your spouse tells you that they’ll end the relationship and they won’t do it again. But is the divorce court going to see this the same way that you do? You hear people talk about taking their cheating spouse to court for “everything they own” or doing all they can to make sure their ex never sees the children. Will the divorce court punish your ex for being unfaithful?

As a father, you have a lot of responsibility, including the need to shelter and clothe your child. You also have certain rights as a parent, including the right to help make decisions about your child’s health care and education and the right to spend time with them. Establishing paternity or parentage is very straightforward, but paternity is a bit more complex.

While it can feel nerve-wracking to have someone else making the decisions about your rights as a parent, judges do their best to respect existing family dynamics. How will a judge make custody decisions in a Minnesota divorce?

Since you’re not likely to see eye to eye regarding matters of property and debt division, there’s a real possibility that it could slow down the divorce process. Fortunately, when you prepare in advance, you’ll know how to proceed, negotiate and compromise without harming your situation.

No two people will take the same steps in preparing for divorce, but there are things that everyone in this position should consider doing. Here’s some guidance:

The reality of divorce is that women’s long-term finances clearly suffer more on average than men’s. If you’re a woman whose marriage seems headed for divorce, it’s never too early to snap into action, getting your financial house in order and prepare for positive post-divorce life. The first step is to simply inventory and document where you and your spouse are now, financially.

The new federal act impacts every state, despite differences in state laws. For example, Minnesota is an equitable distribution state, so all the marital property will be divided “fairly” instead of “equally.” The property often includes all shared bank accounts, retirement benefits and investment portfolios… With the constant changes in tax rules, it’s a smart move to consult a financial advisor before hitting the courtroom with your spouse. It will prepare you for any surprises or future tax filings after finalizing the divorce.