Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-156) and index.

Contents: Section I: Understanding the divorce process: what divorce is like: 1. The feel of divorce -- 2. The practical divorce -- 3. The legal divorce -- 4. Implications of a decision to divorce -- Section II: Getting personally organized: what to do: 5. Describing the players in your drama -- 6. Recognizing extenuating circumstances -- Section III: Pulling yourself and your family together: 7. Discussing your divorce -- 8. Physiological needs -- 9. Safety --10. Need to belong and feel loved -- 11. Self-actualization -- 12. Would counseling help? -- 13. Becoming a single-parent household -- Section IV: Financial value of the marriage: 14. The credit in your financial system: becoming a separate financial entity -- 15. Pulling together the documentation -- 16. Financial situation - as it stands right now -- Section V: Learning about divorce law: 17. Going it alone or with professional help -- 18. The legal process and how it works -- 19. To have and to hold -- 20. Children: custody and child support -- 21. Payment "account-ability" -- Section VI: "Big picture" planning: 22. Your personal objectives --23. Tax facts in divorce -- 24. Choosing and working with your professional team -- Section VII: Getting your legal decree and a successful divorce: 25. Negotiating what is acceptable and affordable -- 26. Structuring the separation agreement -- 27. Should you settle or go to trial?.