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I have just separated.

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What legal and financial steps

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should I take first?

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Protect safety, keep records,

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plan essentials, and get local

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advice before major changes.

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This is a United States

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overview.

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If you or a child faces

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immediate danger, call

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emergency services.

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If there is abuse or coercive

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control, use a safe device to

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seek help with a safety plan.

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Do not put yourself at risk to

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collect documents or negotiate

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in person.

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Safety and legal planning need

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to work together.

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First, establish your legal

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position.

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Are you married, in a

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registered partnership, or

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unmarried?

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Has a case already started?

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Living apart,

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signing a separation agreement,

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and obtaining a court order are

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different things.

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States use different rules.

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Do not assume that moving out

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ends the marriage, divides

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ownership, or settles who must

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pay a debt.

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Next, preserve records you can

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lawfully access.

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Keep bank and credit

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statements, income records, tax

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returns, housing papers,

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insurance details, and

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retirement balances.

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Record key dates and save

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complete messages about

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practical arrangements.

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Keep originals intact and

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copies somewhere safe.

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Do not access someone else’s

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private accounts without

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authority, alter records, or

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hide assets.

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Make a short-term budget for

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housing, food, transport, child

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care and essential payments.

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Identify each account holder

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and who is legally responsible.

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On a joint credit card, either

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borrower may owe the whole

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balance.

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A private agreement about

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payment does not automatically

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release you from the lender’s

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contract.

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Ask the provider about account

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options, and check legal

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restrictions before making

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changes.

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Avoid irreversible decisions

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made in a panic.

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Before transferring substantial

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money, selling shared property,

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changing insurance, or moving

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children, get advice on

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existing orders and the law

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that applies.

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Do not use a child as a

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messenger or treat a

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disagreement about money as

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permission to ignore a

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parenting order.

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If safety is urgent, seek

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emergency help and prompt

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advice.

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You may need temporary

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arrangements while longer-term

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issues are resolved.

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Ask a local attorney or court

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self-help service about

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parenting, support, home use

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and urgent protection.

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The available orders and

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application process depend on

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your state and situation.

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Keep every court paper and

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calendar the actual deadline.

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Do not assume an informal

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arrangement pauses a case or

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protects every financial claim.

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Check tax and health insurance

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before making assumptions.

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For federal tax, living apart

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does not automatically make you

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unmarried for tax purposes;

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your legal status and other

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conditions matter.

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Ask the health plan what

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separation or divorce would

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change, and what notices and

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deadlines apply.

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Continuation coverage may be

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available after a qualifying

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event, but eligibility and cost

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must be checked.

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Prepare three things for your

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first legal discussion.

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One:

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a short list of urgent needs,

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existing orders and dates.

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Two:

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your available records and a

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realistic budget.

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Three:

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questions about temporary help,

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children, property and the

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steps that could affect your

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rights.

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Explain your state,

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relationship status and any

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safety issue.

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Get advice before signing away

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rights or assuming you can deal

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with financial claims later.

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For general legal information,

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Legal Hotline’s United States

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number is on screen.

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Legal Hotline is an information

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service, not a law firm;

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lawyer matching is separate.

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This overview is general

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information.

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Your state, documents and

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circumstances determine the

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advice you need.