One reader recently wrote:

"Since the country has recognized the banking hardships being faced today, I have received two notices reducing my credit limit on my cards to the amount that I presently owe. My maximum's on both of these cards was double what they reduced it to. I recently got a divorce and my credit file is full of bills and statements that are attributable to my ex-husband, however, I haven't had a chance to sit down, go through the list and make the corrections. I am not late, I pay these cards on time, and feel extremely angry about their arbitrary action."

Unfortunately, I hear this problem too often. Even if you are just an authorized user on the outstanding credit cards, the credit card companies can include the record on your credit report. When you know you are separating from a spouse, the first thing you should do is contact all your credit card companies, tell them about the pending divorce, ask that they freeze any joint accounts (which means no new charges will be allowed) and ask that your name be removed as an authorized user on any accounts under your spouse's name.

Separating your financial entanglements as soon as possible is critical as soon as you start a divorce process. Don't wait until the divorce is final. You could be held responsible for any debts your spouse runs up during the divorce process if you don't notify the creditors on accounts you hold jointly.

While we read the dismal news on the state of marriage in the US, a new survey from Parade Magazine reports that more couples are happily married than previously thought. According to the findings of a new national poll, about 88% said they were happy or reasonably content in their marriages. Only 12% ranked their marriages at the bottom of the scale.

Respondents also offered positive explanations for why they've stayed married, with 71% choosing "deep love" as a reason and 73% citing "companionship." On the negative side, close to 30% of the respondents admitted that they remain married either because of financial reasons or because "it's too much trouble to get out."

No matter why people stay in a marriage, it is good for the pocketbook. The longer people stay married, the greater their wealth accumulations. At retirement, a typical married couple has accumulated about $410,000 compared to about $167,000 for never married, about $145,000 for divorced and just under $96,000 for the separated.

It is simply cheaper living together. There are economies of scale and access to insurance, annuities, pensions, and social security. Even in-laws have value as they often leave assets to their offspring. Especially if you are older, it may be better to stay married even if you are no longer feeling "deep love." Better yet, work a bit and rekindle the feelings that brought you together in the first place.

Barbara Bartlein is the People Pro. To sign up for her webinar to improve your relationship, visit: Webinar

According to new research reported in USA Today, women start out as happy young adults but are much sadder than their male counterparts by middle age. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England analyzed decades of national data on 47,000 men and women to create a statistical model that shows women's happiness decreases, while men's increases, exceeding women's by age 48. According to the lead author, Anke Plagnol, women are more likely than men to fulfill their aspirations for material goods and family life, but later, they may be divorced or separated and less financially secure. Meanwhile, men's finances and family life improve.

This study comes as no surprise to this blogger. For single women, who usually make less than their male counterparts, midlife review of finances can be very discouraging. They have been unable to take advantage of the economies of scale that marriage can provide. For single parents, the financial results are even more dramatic. Midlife is the timeframe where kids are going to college with costs that can drain anyone's bank account.

For women who are separated or divorced, the financial reality is even more dramatic. After divorce, wives' standards of living drop 27 percent, while men's standards of living increased by about 10 percent.

I frequently advise women to be cautious about bailing from a marriage at midlife. They may be better off financially by simply separating but staying married. After all, it is likely they will out live their husbands anyway.

Barbara Bartlein is the People Pro. A relationship expert, she is the author of Why Did I Marry You Anyway? Overcoming the Myths That Hinder a Happy Marriage. For more tips and tools to build your relationships, please visit: Marriage Tips. For Barb's Free e-mail newsletter, log on to The People Pro

Reconsider the next time you look for overtime to make some extra money or volunteer for an extra project to impress the boss. Working on your marriage may be as financially important as working on your career.

Couples who stay together long term have more money for retirement, financial security and fun. According to research by Linda Waite, at retirement a typical married couple has accumulated about $410,000 compared to about $167,000 for those who have never married, about $145,000 for divorced and just under $96,000 for the separated. Married couples also have better access to health insurance, annuities, pensions and social security.

Married couples behave more responsibly about money because they have more responsibilities. Often, the spouse who manages money best takes over the duties for both partners. No more eating out every night or blowing the paycheck at the bar. There now is a financial watchdog on duty. Even in-laws can be valuable. Not to sound mercenary, but they provide a potential access to inheritance. They also tend to help couples, with about 29% of married couples receiving financial help from in-laws and about a quarter of families with children receiving financial transfers in the past five years.

The economy is pulling marital bliss right down the crapper along with it and due to fewer assets raising the temperature of already emotional and heated divorces to boiling level. Many divorcees are already fighting over money and with the economy doing so poorly are now dividing up debts rather than fighting over summer homes and frequent flier miles. MSNBC reported on a case in which a freshly divorced husband and wife had to remain living in the same home because they couldn't afford to live elsewhere and another case in which the income of the involved parties had to be adjusted down from $15 million to under $1 million causing even more bitterness!

Historically divorces and the economy have had an interesting relationship, in the last 3 recessions the divorce rates have risen and peaked within a year of the end of the recession. In the early eighties the divorce rate peaked at 5.3 per 1,000 during the recession caused by the Iranian revolution after which it tapered off until the early nineties where it again capped off at 4.8 during a downturn in the industrial and manufacturing industry. Finally the divorce rate climbed back up to its most recent high as the tech bubble popped and dot coms began failing.

Divorce can be a costly affair to go through no matter if you are the instigator or simply the "victim" but recently a trend has developing, increasing the cost, post divorce, for a non-traditional party. The courts have begun to hand out "manimony" or alimony to men who brought in a disproportionately small part of the household income. The courts have been able to give financial compensation to both men and women since the 1970 but few men asked for alimony until recently.

Men who declined to ask for manimony despite having a spouse who earned significantly more cited several factors including being able to take care of themselves and fear of asking for too much after already getting custody for a significant period of time. One reason for the trend to offering financial support is that more males have become primary caregivers, putting careers on hold while they took care of the children and home.

No matter what your view on divorce is I hope you can agree that men should get a fair shake if they are on the bottom end of the relationship bread winning. I can't help but be impressed by the courts treating men equally in this regard. It would be nice to see if they could find it in their hearts to keep in mind that the equipment in your pants shouldn't automatically disqualify you from custody or auto qualify you for child support.

Don't forget a divorce can wreak havoc on your finances, so plan accordingly. Have a differing opinion on "manimony"? Sound off below!

Are you thrilled to be rid of your lying, cheating, good-for-nothing spouse? Well don't throw a party just yet. You may be divorced from the world's worst husband or wife, but that doesn't mean your togetherness is over.

Did you know that after you divorce, you still may be tied to your ex for many years by way of your credit report? That's right.... Your credit history doesn't divorce your spouse, even when you do.

The problems start when the spouses agree that one will continue to pay a debt for which both are legally bound. Sometimes the husband takes the truck and agrees to make the payments, but the debt is in the names of both the husband and the wife. He decides to stop paying but is still driving around in the truck. What happens?

Do you think sharing everything is part of any good marriage? How about finances? Have you ever considered keeping your money separate from your spouse's?

To some that sounds radical, as they believe that combining finances is a big part of becoming a true family unit. On the other hand, money is probably the most common root of problems in a marriage.

Some now say that separating finances might actually be good for a marriage. And in case the marriage ends in divorce, it might be the best thing the couple ever did.

Keeping finances separate comes down to protecting yourself, some people say. How can a spouse protect himself or herself if the other spouse controls all the money? How will the spouse know how much money they have or where it is?