My friends at USAA offer a world of amazing financial information to their members, and to the general public.  This article comes directly from USAA and addresses the myriad issues regarding…, The following content is provided courtesy of  USAA ., Settling for less now can lead to financial regrets later. "Going through a divorce has to be viewed as a business transaction, and it is perhaps one of the biggest of your life," says June Walbert,…, 1. Do stay well-informed before the divorce.,  During the marriage, both spouses need to know their complete financial picture — how property is titled, the passwords for accounts and the location of financial documents.                      , Don't fall into the silent partner syndrome.,  If you don't know these financial details, you could be at a big disadvantage when trying to determine a fair and equitable split of marital assets., 2. Do get a clear picture of your finances.,  If you don't know the details, turn into a sleuth. Dig around and make copies of records or, perhaps even better, hire a forensic accountant. You also can subpoena financial records and require a…, Don't avoid digging for the details.,  Be dogged about seeing documents and papers that explain your financial picture. Ask questions like "How have we been able to afford our lifestyle?" and get the answer you need., 3. Do hire your own team.,  That includes a lawyer, financial planner and perhaps a tax advisor. Your team of pros can look after your best interests objectively., Don't use your soon-to-be ex's attorney.,  An attorney can only truly represent one side's interests. You and your spouse are no longer a team. While you may want an amicable divorce, don't do that at the expense of your future. That said,…, 4. Do understand the real value of your retirement assets.,  Some assets are taxable; others are not. Keep that in mind as you determine an equitable split. For instance, a Roth IRA can provide tax-free income in retirement. On the other hand, withdrawals…, Don't believe all assets are created equal.,  As noted above, always evaluate the after-tax value of assets. For example, $100,000 in an IRA or retirement plan could be worth less, maybe a lot less, after you consider income taxes. For someone…, 5. Do think about diversifying your assets for your retirement.,  Say one spouse has $100,000 in a Roth IRA. He might offer the other either all of the Roth or half his pension in the divorce settlement. That's not a good settlement. You want to split the Roth and…, Don't make concessions without realizing the implications for your future.,  Trying to be agreeable, you might accept an offer of cash or settle for half your spouse's pension. But remember, you need a diversified portfolio down the road, so stand firm in your negotiations., 6. Do have credit in your name.,  Maintain good credit throughout your marriage. Keep some assets and credit cards in your name so you have a credit identity of your own., Don't keep any joint accounts or cosigned loans.,  Make a clean break to protect your good credit. If you can't refinance separately, sell the asset. Don't take pity on your former spouse if he or she can't refinance. Don't let your ex put your…, 7. Do protect child support and alimony payments.,  Make sure you or your ex-spouse have plenty of disability insurance to make up for this income in case of injury or death. Many divorce attorneys make this a standard request. Make sure yours does.…, Don't fail to plan for the worst-case scenario.,  If your ex should stop working for an extended period because of an injury, how will he or she keep up with child support or alimony payments? And what if your ex-spouse dies? Ask your lawyer to…, 8. Do update your budget.,  Take a close look at your spending habits now that you're single. You may have to make hard choices and restructure your spending patterns to keep up with monthly bills., Don't act as if nothing has changed.,  One person typically undergoes a dramatic lifestyle change. If that's you, adjust accordingly., 9. Do take care of estate-planning issues.,  Update beneficiary designations in your retirement plan, any annuities you own and life insurance policies. Plus, talk with your lawyer about changes to your will, powers of attorney and other legal…, Don't treat such updates as unimportant.,  Don't expect a former spouse to give back money erroneously left to him or her in a retirement plan or via an insurance policy. A beneficiary designation trumps a will in every state. When it comes…, 10. Do take advantage of your spouse's Social Security benefits.,  If you were married 10 years or more and the benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work, you may be able to…, Don't dismiss Social Security benefits that can bolster your retirement income.,  Social Security payments may not cover a large part of your retirement income needs, but they add up. For example, assuming 3% inflation, 5% interest and a 30-year benefit period, a $1,000 a month…