Divorce is among the most emotional of life events, but once the decision to separate is final, it often becomes a business transaction to divvy up assets. A lot of money can be frittered away in the divorce process. And that's the last thing you need, because your life is about to get a lot more costly. "Divorce is much more expensive than you think," said Russell Wild, who co-authored with his ex-wife the book "Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce." Two rents, two sets of bedroom furniture for the kids, two sets of pots and pans--the list can go on and on. "I know a lot of people are wholly unprepared for this," Wild said. "Often, both parties get whacked financially, and whacked hard." About $50 billion a year is spent in North America as a direct result of divorce, according to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.