Separation Considerations

• Living Arrangements
• Payment of Bills
• Temporary Support
• Opening Single Accounts
• Closing Joint Accounts
• Notifying Credit Card companies
• Pulling credit reports
• Filing the paperwork

Children

• What is the physical custody split
• What is the legal custody split
• What decisions regarding education, medical treatment, etc. are to be made jointly by both parents
• The parenting plan (child sharing or visitation (regular visits, holidays, birthdays, vacations, etc.)

Division of Property

• Division of community assets
• Division of community liabilities
• Division of household items
• Cash settlement (amount, terms, payment schedule)
• Full financial disclosure statements

Support

• Child support payments (how much, how often, duration, extraordinary expenses for medical care, etc.)
• Spousal support payments (how much, how often, duration)

Insurance

• Medical coverage for children and/or spouse
• Life insurance beneficiaries

Tax Implications

• Distribution of exemptions for dependents
• Filing status (year of separation, year of divorce)
• Tax payment/refund distribution (year of separation, year of divorce)
• Audits
• Payment of capital gains taxes from sale of assets

Special Provisions

• Statement regarding payment of mediator, filing fees
• Provisions for the communication and resolution of future issues or problems with settlement terms
• Suggestion to consult with an attorney