Has your spouse recently become concerned about your finances even though nothing has changed for years? Or has your spouse started asking you to keep a detailed list of everything you buy? If you said yes, then you will want to keep reading because some financial experts believe these behaviors, among a few others, could indicate that a divorce is imminent.
Although money is typically a source of contention with just about every couple across the nation, some financial experts believe that some behaviors concerning marital money can signify that a spouse might be considering a divorce down the road. It’s worth pointing out though that some behaviors are more obvious than others. Let’s take a look at a few.
A few of the more easier-to-spot behaviors may include arguing about finances more than usual, making large cash withdrawals but not being able to explain where the money is going, and putting a hold on direct deposits to your joint accounts. These behaviors may suggest that your spouse is actively trying to separate marital assets before it becomes a source of contention during the property division step of the divorce process.
But like we said above, some behaviors are easier to spot than others. Some of the more difficult-to-spot might include: your spouse taking more business trips than usual or spending more on food and entertainment while away. Another red flag may be that your spouse is hiding assets in other accounts to which you have no access. Maybe you received a phone call from the bank saying that your spouse is cleared to co-sign on a home loan you know nothing about. Things like this, while difficult to spot at first, can also indicate that divorce may be just around the corner.
So what can our California readers do? If your spouse’s behavior concerning your finances seems off then it may be time for you to take a more active role in money management to make sure that everything is accounted for in the event your spouse springs a request for divorce on you. It also doesn’t hurt to talk to a knowledgeable family law attorney as well. With their help, you’ll be better prepared for the possibility of a divorce as well as the property division step later on.
Source: TIME, “11 Financial Clues That Your Spouse Wants a Divorce,” Lili A. Vasileff, March 19, 2015
