WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.250 --> 00:00:01.950
I have just separated.

2
00:00:02.010 --> 00:00:04.010
What legal and financial steps

3
00:00:04.010 --> 00:00:05.470
should I take first?

4
00:00:05.610 --> 00:00:08.110
Protect safety, keep records,

5
00:00:08.250 --> 00:00:10.330
plan essentials, and get local

6
00:00:10.330 --> 00:00:12.110
advice before major changes.

7
00:00:13.117 --> 00:00:14.637
This is a United States

8
00:00:14.637 --> 00:00:15.617
overview.

9
00:00:15.757 --> 00:00:17.357
If you or a child faces

10
00:00:17.357 --> 00:00:19.197
immediate danger, call

11
00:00:19.197 --> 00:00:20.657
emergency services.

12
00:00:20.797 --> 00:00:22.477
If there is abuse or coercive

13
00:00:22.477 --> 00:00:24.637
control, use a safe device to

14
00:00:24.637 --> 00:00:26.177
seek help with a safety plan.

15
00:00:26.474 --> 00:00:28.314
Do not put yourself at risk to

16
00:00:28.314 --> 00:00:30.074
collect documents or negotiate

17
00:00:30.074 --> 00:00:31.054
in person.

18
00:00:31.194 --> 00:00:33.114
Safety and legal planning need

19
00:00:33.114 --> 00:00:33.934
to work together.

20
00:00:34.983 --> 00:00:36.903
First, establish your legal

21
00:00:36.903 --> 00:00:37.803
position.

22
00:00:37.863 --> 00:00:39.143
Are you married, in a

23
00:00:39.143 --> 00:00:40.583
registered partnership, or

24
00:00:40.583 --> 00:00:41.623
unmarried?

25
00:00:41.623 --> 00:00:43.723
Has a case already started?

26
00:00:43.783 --> 00:00:45.003
Living apart,

27
00:00:45.303 --> 00:00:47.323
signing a separation agreement,

28
00:00:47.463 --> 00:00:49.223
and obtaining a court order are

29
00:00:49.223 --> 00:00:49.883
different things.

30
00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:52.260
States use different rules.

31
00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:54.000
Do not assume that moving out

32
00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.000
ends the marriage, divides

33
00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.920
ownership, or settles who must

34
00:00:57.920 --> 00:00:58.660
pay a debt.

35
00:00:59.697 --> 00:01:01.697
Next, preserve records you can

36
00:01:01.697 --> 00:01:02.997
lawfully access.

37
00:01:03.137 --> 00:01:04.337
Keep bank and credit

38
00:01:04.337 --> 00:01:06.417
statements, income records, tax

39
00:01:06.417 --> 00:01:08.337
returns, housing papers,

40
00:01:08.337 --> 00:01:09.537
insurance details, and

41
00:01:09.537 --> 00:01:10.997
retirement balances.

42
00:01:11.137 --> 00:01:12.817
Record key dates and save

43
00:01:12.817 --> 00:01:14.257
complete messages about

44
00:01:14.257 --> 00:01:15.477
practical arrangements.

45
00:01:15.832 --> 00:01:17.592
Keep originals intact and

46
00:01:17.592 --> 00:01:19.292
copies somewhere safe.

47
00:01:19.432 --> 00:01:21.032
Do not access someone else’s

48
00:01:21.032 --> 00:01:22.152
private accounts without

49
00:01:22.152 --> 00:01:24.712
authority, alter records, or

50
00:01:24.712 --> 00:01:25.612
hide assets.

51
00:01:26.550 --> 00:01:28.070
Make a short-term budget for

52
00:01:28.070 --> 00:01:31.510
housing, food, transport, child

53
00:01:31.510 --> 00:01:33.370
care and essential payments.

54
00:01:33.510 --> 00:01:35.190
Identify each account holder

55
00:01:35.190 --> 00:01:37.370
and who is legally responsible.

56
00:01:37.510 --> 00:01:39.430
On a joint credit card, either

57
00:01:39.430 --> 00:01:40.790
borrower may owe the whole

58
00:01:40.790 --> 00:01:41.290
balance.

59
00:01:41.695 --> 00:01:43.055
A private agreement about

60
00:01:43.055 --> 00:01:44.735
payment does not automatically

61
00:01:44.735 --> 00:01:46.255
release you from the lender’s

62
00:01:46.255 --> 00:01:47.075
contract.

63
00:01:47.135 --> 00:01:48.735
Ask the provider about account

64
00:01:48.735 --> 00:01:50.495
options, and check legal

65
00:01:50.495 --> 00:01:51.935
restrictions before making

66
00:01:51.935 --> 00:01:52.435
changes.

67
00:01:53.450 --> 00:01:55.450
Avoid irreversible decisions

68
00:01:55.450 --> 00:01:57.070
made in a panic.

69
00:01:57.210 --> 00:01:58.810
Before transferring substantial

70
00:01:58.810 --> 00:02:01.050
money, selling shared property,

71
00:02:01.050 --> 00:02:02.490
changing insurance, or moving

72
00:02:02.490 --> 00:02:04.330
children, get advice on

73
00:02:04.330 --> 00:02:05.850
existing orders and the law

74
00:02:05.850 --> 00:02:06.510
that applies.

75
00:02:06.905 --> 00:02:08.585
Do not use a child as a

76
00:02:08.585 --> 00:02:09.865
messenger or treat a

77
00:02:09.865 --> 00:02:11.465
disagreement about money as

78
00:02:11.465 --> 00:02:12.745
permission to ignore a

79
00:02:12.745 --> 00:02:13.965
parenting order.

80
00:02:14.025 --> 00:02:16.185
If safety is urgent, seek

81
00:02:16.185 --> 00:02:17.705
emergency help and prompt

82
00:02:17.705 --> 00:02:18.205
advice.

83
00:02:19.283 --> 00:02:20.563
You may need temporary

84
00:02:20.563 --> 00:02:22.323
arrangements while longer-term

85
00:02:22.323 --> 00:02:23.783
issues are resolved.

86
00:02:23.923 --> 00:02:25.683
Ask a local attorney or court

87
00:02:25.683 --> 00:02:26.883
self-help service about

88
00:02:26.883 --> 00:02:29.843
parenting, support, home use

89
00:02:29.843 --> 00:02:31.223
and urgent protection.

90
00:02:31.283 --> 00:02:32.723
The available orders and

91
00:02:32.723 --> 00:02:34.563
application process depend on

92
00:02:34.563 --> 00:02:36.158
your state and situation.

93
00:02:36.158 --> 00:02:37.918
Keep every court paper and

94
00:02:37.918 --> 00:02:39.858
calendar the actual deadline.

95
00:02:39.998 --> 00:02:41.598
Do not assume an informal

96
00:02:41.598 --> 00:02:43.518
arrangement pauses a case or

97
00:02:43.518 --> 00:02:45.378
protects every financial claim.

98
00:02:46.350 --> 00:02:48.270
Check tax and health insurance

99
00:02:48.270 --> 00:02:50.050
before making assumptions.

100
00:02:50.190 --> 00:02:52.270
For federal tax, living apart

101
00:02:52.270 --> 00:02:53.870
does not automatically make you

102
00:02:53.870 --> 00:02:55.730
unmarried for tax purposes;

103
00:02:56.030 --> 00:02:57.630
your legal status and other

104
00:02:57.630 --> 00:02:58.530
conditions matter.

105
00:02:58.905 --> 00:03:00.185
Ask the health plan what

106
00:03:00.185 --> 00:03:01.705
separation or divorce would

107
00:03:01.705 --> 00:03:03.705
change, and what notices and

108
00:03:03.705 --> 00:03:05.005
deadlines apply.

109
00:03:05.145 --> 00:03:06.745
Continuation coverage may be

110
00:03:06.745 --> 00:03:08.265
available after a qualifying

111
00:03:08.265 --> 00:03:11.065
event, but eligibility and cost

112
00:03:11.065 --> 00:03:11.965
must be checked.

113
00:03:12.883 --> 00:03:14.723
Prepare three things for your

114
00:03:14.723 --> 00:03:16.343
first legal discussion.

115
00:03:16.483 --> 00:03:17.223
One:

116
00:03:17.283 --> 00:03:19.623
a short list of urgent needs,

117
00:03:19.683 --> 00:03:21.623
existing orders and dates.

118
00:03:21.683 --> 00:03:22.163
Two:

119
00:03:22.163 --> 00:03:24.003
your available records and a

120
00:03:24.003 --> 00:03:25.063
realistic budget.

121
00:03:25.258 --> 00:03:26.318
Three:

122
00:03:26.778 --> 00:03:28.718
questions about temporary help,

123
00:03:28.938 --> 00:03:30.698
children, property and the

124
00:03:30.698 --> 00:03:31.898
steps that could affect your

125
00:03:31.898 --> 00:03:32.638
rights.

126
00:03:32.938 --> 00:03:34.218
Explain your state,

127
00:03:34.218 --> 00:03:35.978
relationship status and any

128
00:03:35.978 --> 00:03:36.798
safety issue.

129
00:03:37.178 --> 00:03:39.018
Get advice before signing away

130
00:03:39.018 --> 00:03:40.858
rights or assuming you can deal

131
00:03:40.858 --> 00:03:42.478
with financial claims later.

132
00:03:43.417 --> 00:03:45.757
For general legal information,

133
00:03:46.057 --> 00:03:47.817
Legal Hotline’s United States

134
00:03:47.817 --> 00:03:49.437
number is on screen.

135
00:03:49.497 --> 00:03:51.497
Legal Hotline is an information

136
00:03:51.497 --> 00:03:53.757
service, not a law firm;

137
00:03:53.897 --> 00:03:55.897
lawyer matching is separate.

138
00:03:55.897 --> 00:03:57.417
This overview is general

139
00:03:57.417 --> 00:03:58.157
information.

140
00:03:58.518 --> 00:04:00.598
Your state, documents and

141
00:04:00.598 --> 00:04:02.198
circumstances determine the

142
00:04:02.198 --> 00:04:03.098
advice you need.