Divorce is stressful. Time commitments, paperwork, tension, expenses and lifestyle changes can make it an emotional and logistical nightmare. But just like virtually every other task we go through in life, there’s an app for that.
While mobile apps usually aren’t the first thing people think of to help them get through an intense legal process, there are a variety of apps designed to help do just that.
Here are five of the best:
1: SupportPay
SupportPay helps single parents manage child support payments from a computer or mobile device. Originally designed by a single mother looking to make the process easier for both parents, the company behind the app has since raised over $2 million to transform the service into the top child support management tool available.
Here are a few key things SupportPay can help with:
Paying for child support
- SupportPay you pay child support directly to your former spouse without getting a state or government worker involved. Whether you make payments yourself, or pay through wage garnishment, the app allows you to track and document each payment made.
Paying for additional expenses
- In addition to base child support payments, SupportPay also helps with any other kinds of expenses a parent is responsible for including:
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- Medical/healthcare costs
- Spousal support
- Alimony
- Family support
- Arrears
Since all payments are tracked for both parents, you’ll know exactly how much you can or should be claiming on your taxes without the risk of an audit.
Click here to see how SupportPay fits into the child support process.
2: SquareHub
SquareHub is like a private Facebook just for your family. You can create a family calendar, schedule events and vacations, instant message one another and share photos and other media all in one place, privately.
While it’s designed for all kinds of families, founder Dave Cotter’s original idea for the service came from his own experience in a separated family. It’s a great tool for those who want to stay active in their children’s lives through a private service.
Here’s a few things you’ll find inside:
- Group messaging
- Family sharing (photos, events, tasks, location details)
- Shared calendar & to-do list
- Reminders
Cost: FREE
Click here to learn more and download SquareHub.
3. 2houses
2houses is similar to SquareHub with some added financial management systems and a different look and feel. Its main goal is to help families and separated parents communicate better and get organized to help their children grow and succeed.
Here are the features geared specifically to separated parents:
- Shared calendar
- Journal (for sharing news, photos, videos & quotes to remember)
- Photo albums
- Instant messaging
- Notifications
Financial management
2houses also offers a simple financial management tool showing current and past shared expenses, continuous balances and financial reporting.
Cost: FREE
Click here to learn more and download 2houses.
4: Divorce Log
Divorce Log is designed specifically for keeping track of the documentation involved in divorce or custody situations. Essentially, it allows you to keep all of this vital information in one place rather than scattered on your computer in a file cabinet.
Along with personal record keeping, it can also be used by lawyers, child support officers, and psychologists before, during and after your case.
Here are some of the features built to help you manage documents:
- Day, month, and total log view
- Automatic expenditure calculator
- Notepad adding additional notes and reminders to documents
- Email functionality to send documents directly from the app
Cost: $4.99
Click here to learn more and download Divorce Log.
5: iSplit Divorce
iSplit Divorce helps divorcing couples split up their marital assets and debts visually rather than using a complex spreadsheet to calculate everything.
It’s simple: Add your stuff, move pieces to one side or another and see how it affects the total each person ultimately receives. Simply save your configurations to compare multiple options and export your final decision to a spreadsheet you can share with your attorney.
Cost: $1.99
Click here to learn more about iSplit Divorce and download it for iPad.