So what can you do to protect yourself?

First, it is best to avoid trusting your soon-to-be ex with your finances, both generally and in terms of taxes.

If your divorce was not yet final on the last day of the tax year, then you have the option to file jointly, but you might not want to. Filing separately can offer you added protection, and while you may lose out of some benefits of filing jointly, you will know that your ex is not getting you into trouble with the IRS.

If you do file jointly, make sure to check that your tax forms have been completed properly and filed with the IRS on time. And, of course, don’t sign anything until you have read it thoroughly.

If you aren’t comfortable reading financial documents yourself, ask your divorce lawyer or a financial adviser for help.