Figure out what you owe. Make an accurate assessment of your debts and liabilities. Get a credit report. Make sure your divorce settlement deals with the issue of your debts.
Plan for your new living arrangements. Will you need to get a new house or new apartment? Do you have mortgage payments you need to resolve? If you have a home, you need to decide how you’ll split any equity in that home.
Make a new budget. Figure out what income you will now have and what existing or new expenses you will have to deal with, such as new furniture or appliances or a car. Make a plan for paying off any existing debt.
Be sure to close any joint accounts such as credit cards, merchant or store cards, or any other revolving debt. Separate all debt so that you can avoid negative repercussions should your ex-spouse run into credit trouble.
Be sure that your ex-spouse is making their payments. Often, even if a debt is assigned in a divorce settlement, your name will still be on that debt. If your ex-spouse fails to make the payments, you may still find yourself in financial distress and have your credit rating endangered.
Deal quickly with any issues regarding back-taxes. No matter who that debt is assigned to, the IRS will go after anyone on the tax statement. You might want to hire a tax lawyer to go over this debt.
Try to move forward with your financial health. Start a savings plan. Build your retirement plan. Remember that you are again alone in your responsibility for your economic health.