Divorce Survival Scenario: What to Do If Your Paycheck Doesn’t Hit Your Bank Account
Divorce Happens: Survival Scenarios is all about the real-life “oh no, now what?!” moments people face during divorce—like empty bank accounts, custody curveballs, or surprise legal papers—and pairing them with clear, compassionate guidance from trusted experts. Each post in the series offers support, strategies, and a reminder that you don’t have to face these challenges alone.
Divorce Happens: Survival Scenario –
Help! I just checked my bank account and my paycheck isn’t there. It always goes into this account, and now I have no idea what happened. Did it bounce somewhere else? Did payroll mess up? I have bills due this week and I’m freaking out—what do I even do first?
Guidance from Janice Berner, CPA*, MBA, CLTC, CDFA
How Do I Trace What Happened to My Paycheck?
Especially given everything else going on right now, it is understandable this situation would be very stressful. There are often simple explanations for a delayed deposit – a processing delay or a mix-up if you have new account information.
This is usually something that can be sorted out. First, confirm the pay date and that the check was issued with your HR department or payroll portal. Verify which bank account was used as it may have been sent to an old account during this period of change in your life.
If you receive paper checks, verify the mailing address on file with HR is current. If the check was mailed and is taking longer than usual, verify with HR that it has not been cashed and request that they reissue it if it does not arrive within a certain amount of time.
What Are My Rights If My Spouse Rerouted Income?
This is a very difficult and emotional situation. As this is a legal situation, you should consult a family law attorney in your state for advice specific to your state. For example, in Massachusetts, if either of you have officially filed for divorce, you should contact your attorney immediately regarding the automatic restraining order on assets and debts that apply to both of you.
To prevent this from continuing to happen and protect yourself going forward, you should immediately open an individual bank account in your name only and alert your HR and payroll departments.
Who Should I Call First: HR, a Lawyer, or the Bank?
To trace what has happened, first call your HR department to verify pay date and deposit account information and then your bank to check on potential processing delay. If you review your account transactions and find proof that your paycheck was deposited but then withdrawn by your spouse, you will want to keep careful records and then reach out to your attorney for next steps.
If you have a divorce financial planner or certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), please contact them regarding your budget and upcoming costs which you can then provide to your attorney who may be able to help you gain access to funds for expenses. In the meantime, your CDFA can help you with action items to stay current with your bills and maintain your credit rating which is one of your most important assets.
Key Takeaway: Stay Calm and Follow the Process
The best thing to do right now is to stay calm and follow the process to track down your missing paycheck. Having a team of professionals you can rely on can help make the path ahead clearer and give you the confidence to move forward.
Disclaimers
*This is not legal information, please reach out to one of our trusted divorce lawyers for further assistance.
Janice Berner is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. OSJ: 1 Marina Park Drive, 16th Floor Boston MA 02210. 617-585-4500. Neither MML Investors Services, LLC nor any of its subsidiaries, employees or representatives are authorized to give legal or tax advice. Consult your own personal attorney legal or tax counsel for advice on specific legal and tax matters. CRN202809-9519156
