Divorce

Wright-Patt Credit Union® helps make the financial changes of divorce a little easier.

Long before the divorce process has started, you’ll need to prepare your finances for the road ahead. Divorce can be difficult, but Wright-Patt Credit Union® (WPCU®) is here to help you successfully navigate the path to the financially flexible and free life you want to live post-divorce.

  • Ready Your Finances for Divorce

    It takes organization, patience and diligence when it comes to managing your finances for divorce:

  • Re-Establish Your Finances

    Bring your finances together and establish realistic expectations for saving and spending money:

  • Rebuilding After Divorce

    Your life is changing, so will your goals. Review and refresh your financial goals:

Ready Your Finances for Divorce

It takes organization, patience and diligence when it comes to managing your finances for divorce:
  • Organize your finances and get a clear look at your financial picture 
  • Track expenses and create or update your monthly budget for your life during and after divorce 
  • Look beyond normal expenses and include major events like relocating, vacations or replacing appliances
  • Account for new and flexible expenses that you may not have been responsible for prior to the separation
  • Account for changing circumstances ahead like increasing expenses as your children get older

  • Establish a separate checking account but understand that account information may still be required to be reported and even frozen in some cases
  • Seek assistance from a legal professional* rather than a well-meaning friend or fellow divorcee

Although WPCU is not a legal advisor, our financial coaches can help you work through the financial organization process. Stop by your local Member Center and talk to a financial coach today.

*For legal advice regarding this topic, please be sure to consult with a legal professional.

Re-Establish Your Finances

Bring your finances together and establish realistic expectations for saving and spending money:
  • Gather your documentation.  You’ll need:
    • Checking and savings account statements (past year)
    • Retirement account statements 
    • Investment account statements (past year)
    • Ledgers for any loans, including your mortgage, auto loans and personal loans (past year)
    • Credit card statements (past year)
    • Recent pay stubs
    • Lists of assets and debts brought into the marriage and those accumulated since marriage
    • Income tax returns (past three years)
  • Close joint accounts, open individual ones and update your beneficiaries 
  • Review your expenses and determine:
    • Will your current income be adequate for maintaining your expenses? 
      • Consider what day-to-day expenses may be changing, and what you’ll now need to take on yourself
  • Can you “afford” your lifestyle? Affordability results when you can manage your expenses and debts, while still saving and planning for the future. 
  • Will you be responsible for expenses that you were not responsible for paying prior to separating?
  • Maintain or rebuild an emergency fund for yourself and/or dependents 
  • A  WPCU Share Certificate or Money Market Account can help you save for short-term goals and you’ll earn some of the highest rates in the area
  • Consider consolidating multiple credit cards into a Platinum Low Rate Credit Card or personal loan.

Meet with one of our financial coaches at your local Member Center to plan your finances as a single person and discover the saving strategies that will work best for your new life. 

Rebuilding After Divorce

Your life is changing, so will your goals. Review and refresh your financial goals:
  • Establish or update a new plan of action for your short, mid and long-term goals. If you need help taking a look at your finances and developing a new plan, our financial coaches and counselors at GreenPath Financial Management can help! 
  • Plan for mid-term goals such as buying a new home or saving for college.
  • Schedule recurring deposits into a joint WPCU Money Market Account to help meet your savings goals. 
  • Reduce your debts to help you manage your finances. WPCU can help you get ahead. 
  • Assess your needs for peace-of mind insurance, including home, auto, health, and life.
  • Make or update legal documents, including wills, power of attorney and health care directive documents.
  • What investments would be wise for you to make to meet your future goals?

Stop by your local Member Center today to meet with one of our financial coaches who can help make it easier for you to move toward a financially flexible, post-divorce future.  

Learn a Lot and feel more secure with WPCU’s free financial education resources


  • Financial Learning Center

    There is a wealth of free financial learning seminars, webinars, online resources and more at the WPCU Financial Learning Center.

  • Brochures/Documents

    Learn more about the products, services and resources available from Wright-Patt Credit Union that can help you on your Financial Flexibility and Freedom® journey.

  • Budget Worksheets

    Start a budget and create a monthly spending plan with our easy-to-use financial worksheets.