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Appendix D: Organizations and Further Reading
National organizations and official resources that can help you learn more, find or verify a professional, or get help in a crisis. These are starting points, not endorsements. Web addresses and program details change, so confirm the current information before you rely on it. For how to find your state’s offices, see Appendix C. (state-specific — verify)
Safety and Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline. Free and confidential, 24/7, including help with the financial side of leaving safely. Call 1-800-799- 7233, or visit thehotline.org. In immediate danger, call 911.
WomensLaw.org (National Network to End Domestic Violence).
Plain-language, state-by-state legal information on protective orders and family law. womenslaw.org
Health Coverage
HealthCare.gov. The federal Affordable Care Act marketplace: special enrollment after divorce, plan comparison, and income-based subsidies (or your state’s own exchange). healthcare.gov (state-specific — verify) Medicaid and CHIP. Income-based coverage for adults and children; find your state program through medicaid.gov. (state-specific — verify)
Taxes
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Official rules and forms. Most relevant here: Publication 504 (Divorced or Separated Individuals), Publication 523 (Selling Your Home), Form 8332 (release of the child dependency claim), Form 8857 (innocent spouse relief), and Form 8379 (injured spouse allocation). irs.gov (state-specific — verify)
Credit and Debt
AnnualCreditReport.com. The federally authorized site for your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Consumer guides
on credit, debt, and mortgages, plus a complaint portal. consumerfinance.gov
Financial Professionals
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). A credential for
financial professionals trained in the money side of divorce; the issuing body maintains a practitioner directory. Search ‘Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts’ for the current site. (state-specific — verify)
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). A
professional association of fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors.
napfa.org
FINRA BrokerCheck. Free tool to verify the background of a financial professional or firm. brokercheck.finra.org
Retirement and Pensions
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Guidance on dividing employer retirement plans (qualified domestic relations orders) and your rights under ERISA. dol.gov (state-specific — verify)
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Information on
federally insured private pensions. pbgc.gov (state-specific — verify)
Legal Help
American Bar Association (ABA). Directory of state and local bar associations and their lawyer-referral services. americanbar.org Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and LawHelp.org. Free or low-cost legal help for those who qualify by income. lsc.gov
Mediation
Court-connected mediation programs. Many family courts maintain rosters of approved mediators; your state court self-help center (Appendix C) is the most reliable starting point. Professional mediation associations also list members, so search for a family or divorce mediation association and verify credentials before hiring. (state-specific — verify)
Further Reading
The most reliable further reading for a consumer is the primary source itself, because secondary summaries go out of date, especially on tax and health-coverage rules that change year to year. Start with the official publications above: IRS Publication 504 for the tax treatment of divorce, HealthCare.gov for coverage, the CFPB’s guides for credit and debt, and the Department of Labor for retirement-plan division. Each is free, current, and authoritative, and each is the best foundation for the specific questions you then take to a professional licensed in your state.
Appendix D online: clickable, always-current resource links.
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