Before you initiate a divorce or try to negotiate a settlement with your soon-to-be ex, make sure you have all your financial ducks in a row. Make a list of every line item in the family budget. Include every expense, every debt and every asset you have. When you’re done, repeat the process to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

If your accounting and money management skills are lacking, consult a trusted friend who has those skills. If your spouse has been handling the family finances, ask to see the accounting records before the negotiations begin. If they balk, do whatever is necessary, short of breaking the law, to gain access to that information.

Leave nothing to chance. It’s easy to overlook important information when emotions are involved. If ever there was a time for a cold, clinical, unemotional calculation on your part, this is it. If you miss something in your calculations, it could cost you a great deal of money and further heartache.

Is your spouse hiding assets? Divorcing spouses often find ways to hide money and other assts. Many even declare bankruptcy during a divorce. If your spouse does this to you, you may need a bankruptcy attorney to have the judge exclude you from the list of creditors who will not be paid. If your spouse declares bankruptcy, you can also challenge the decision.

Another popular deception is an improper conveyance of money or assets. This is where a spouse transfers cash or other assets to friends or family members and claims they no longer have those assets. If you suspect this ploy, you may need the help of a divorce lawyer, forensic accountant or private investigator to uncover the truth.  When this happens, any of these people should be able to prove how the transfer was made and demonstrate that it was made in order to deprive you of your share of the assets.

The entire process of divorce and taking care of yourself with finances and getting your fair share may make you sick. But hiring an attorney to control this process will help you move on to the next stage of your life.