Is there any way to protect my retirement investments (IRA)? We finally decided that a divorce is the best course of action but haven't started the process yet. Married 19 years, 2 kids (8 & 13), both agreeable to the divorce with no hard feeling toward each other about the decision. We both want it, been talking about it for a few years. So as I get my head wrapped around what I can do to minimize my financial hit, I wondered if there's anything I can do with my IRA right now to keep her away from it. Can it be cashed out & moved into something eise that she can't touch as the divorce proceeds?

What other advice do you guys have? She wants to stay in the house & I'm OK with that. What I would like is, ideally, she would buy me out of the mortgage & take it on herself. But if that can't happen(maybe she can't get financed or whatever) can I then require/demand that we sell the house? Or is that out of the question.

I know these are all questions for a lawyer. Just wondering what any of you guys might have EXPERIENCED.

TIA