John Ventura was a small business owner, bestselling author, and board- certified bankruptcy attorney. He was also a national authority on consumer and small business financial and legal problems. Mary Reed is an author and journalist who has ghostwritten and coauthored several books on consumer law and money matters. She has also written for numerous publications.

• Introduction 1Part I: When Your Marriage Is on the Rocks 7Chapter 1: Divorce Fundamentals 9Chapter 2: Avoiding a Divorce 29Chapter 3: Getting Your Finances in Order 39Chapter 4: Putting Your Marriage On Hold with a Separation 57Part II: Getting Your Divorce Going 71Chapter 5: Taking the First Steps 73Chapter 6: Breaking the News to Your Kids 91Chapter 7: Handling the Emotions of Divorce 105Part III: Deciding the Basic Issues in Your Divorce 115Chapter 8: Dividing Your Assets and Your Debts 117Chapter 9: Considering Spousal Support 141Chapter 10: Choosing the Best Custody Arrangement for Your Kids 155Chapter 11: Using Child Support to Provide For Your Children 177Part IV: Working Out the Details of Your Divorce 195Chapter 12: Negotiating Your Own Divorce 197Chapter 13: Finding a Divorce Attorney 215Chapter 14: Working Hand in Hand with Your Attorney 229Chapter 15: Using Mediation to End Divorce Stalemates 243Chapter 16: Letting a Judge or Jury Decide the Details of Your Divorce 251Part V: After You’re Officially Divorced: Avoiding Problems and Handling Challenges 269Chapter 17: Focusing on Your Postdivorce Financial Life 271Chapter 18: Resolving the Stickiest Issues after Divorce 295Chapter 19: Putting Your Personal Life Back on Track 317Part VI: The Part of Tens 331Chapter 20: Ten Divorce to Check Out 333Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Help Your Kids Handle Your Divorce 337Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Getting On with Your Life 343Index 347