Divorce is a very emotional time for all parties. That emotion can cloud judgment and paralyze you from taking action at the most crucial time. Even if you hope that your marriage can be saved, protecting yourself is the first step in a divorce proceeding.

It is sensible to take steps that will protect your future, no matter how it turns out. Even if the divorce was initiated by you. Even an uncontested separation without all of the courtroom drama can be physically and emotionally draining.

If the divorce is proceeding smoothly and you are among the fortunate ones, there are still steps you should take to protect your financial future and yourself. If new information becomes available on either side, an uncontested divorce can quickly go south.

Separate as much as possible your finances from the spouse you are divorcing, whether the divorce is contested or not. These include removing your shares of any joint bank accounts and the names of the other person from vehicle titles. Separation responsibility for credit cards and other debts.

You should not sign off on any debts that you are responsible for. The credit agency won't care about the divorce papers if you do this. You will still be liable for any past due debts.

Make sure you understand the laws in your state regarding uncontested divorce. You can request a copy at your local courthouse in most instances. This is especially true if you recently moved to another state, or if your spouse has been living in the same place for most of the marriage.

Uncontested divorce is a situation in which there are few or no assets that can be divided. Custody or visitation is usually not an issue since there are no children or the agreement of both the spouses.

A contested divorcement is one where one party is disputing the other's community property, custody or visitation rights, or any other marital assets, such as jointly owned businesses.

Be sure you're thinking of an uncontested divorce. Unexpected events can happen when you least expect them. In this sense, it's better to prepare for whatever might happen than to be caught off guard.