Coping with Divorce or Separation

Now, I am in Canada so rules might be different, and my credit had been damaged by the whole divorce (I was a stay at home mom and relied on my husband to pay my credit card bills, as well as the mortgage/car payment and one day he decided to stop without telling me, I found out later when they cancelled my card and repo'ed my car. Fun times) but I was unable to get even a secured credit card with my legal papers stating my income (At the time I had child support and alimony totalling $4000/month). They didn't see it as income, even though legally it was. It was so dumb - I could've stayed in my marital home (we caught up on the mortgage payments) but I wasn't allowed a new home with lower payments.

When I eventually bought my own house a few years later, my parents (who have impeccable credit and no debt at all) had to co-sign. I recently did an inquiry to see if it would be possible to get my parents' name off my mortgage - I now have a job and have a bit more income (gave up the alimony, still get child support and have a steady salary)- and the answer was no. I would not be approved, even with a job. However, my house is quite expensive (high cost area) and my salary pretty low so that could be why, as my credit is very nearly completely repaired.

Good luck. Dealing with finances through a divorce just plain stinks.