192. Divorce Explored: How to Prepare for Divorce Financially When Your Spouse Controls the Money

In this episode of We Chat Divorce, Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan unpack one of the most common—and costly—realities in divorce: financial blind spots within a marriage. Inspired in part by the broader conversation sparked by the popular book Strangers: a Memoir of Marriage , this discussion moves beyond the emotional narrative and into the financial truth many individuals face when divorce becomes real. Because while the emotional impact often gets the attention, it’s the lack of financial clarity that can have lasting consequences. Through real client experiences, Karen and Catherine reveal how often individuals enter divorce without a clear understanding of their financial picture. Unknown accounts, overlooked debts, and incomplete visibility aren’t signs of irresponsibility—they’re the result of financial roles that “worked” until they didn’t. The problem is, once divorce begins, you’re no longer living within the system—you’re being asked to evaluate, explain, and divide it. This episode reinforces a core principle: being financially supported is not the same as being financially informed. Without clarity, decisions are made under pressure, legal costs increase, and long-term outcomes can suffer. That’s why My Divorce Solution focuses on financial clarity before legal action—organizing, verifying, and analyzing your full financial picture so you can move forward with confidence, not confusion. About My Divorce Solution We Chat Divorce is produced by My Divorce Solution (MDS) — a financial divorce preparation company dedicated to helping individuals navigate divorce with clarity, confidence, and a strategic financial plan. Founded by Karen Chellew, Legal Liaison, and Catherine Shanahan, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), MDS was created to solve one of the most common and costly mistakes in divorce: entering the legal process without fully understanding your financial picture. Divorce is not just a legal event — it is a financial transition that can shape your long-term security. Through the MDS Divorce Financial Portrait™, clients receive expert financial analysis, organized financial disclosures, and scenario planning to understand how different settlement decisions impact their future. This financial preparation often reduces legal fees, shortens the divorce process, and helps individuals negotiate from a position of knowledge rather than fear.If you are considering divorce or already in the process, you can begin by taking the Free Divorce Financial Assessment to better understand your options. You can also join the MDS Community for expert guidance, educational resources, and live Q&A events designed to help you move from uncertainty to clarity. At My Divorce Solution, the mission is simple: replace fear with knowledge so you can make informed, confident financial decisions during divorce. DisclaimerThe We Chat Divorce podcast (hereinafter referred to as the “WCD”) represents the opinions of Catherine Shanahan, Karen Chellew, and their guests to the show. WCD should not be considered professional or legal advice. The content here is for informational purposes only. Views and opinions expressed on WCD are our own and do not represent that of our places of work.WCD should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever. Listeners should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No listener should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on WCD without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on WCD.Unless specifically stated otherwise, Catherine Shanahan and Karen Chellew do not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned on WCD, and information from this podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third-party materials or content of any third-party site referenced on WCD do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of Catherine Shanahan or Karen Chellew.WCD, CATHERINE SHANAHAN, AND KAREN CHELLEW EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL’S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices