Post-Divorce Checklist

20 Apr Post-Divorce Checklist

The T’s have been crossed and the I’s have been dotted. Your divorce has been finalized. Whether it was a long process or a short one, the judge has finally issued a divorce decree. You and your now ex-spouse are no longer married.

Congratulations on finishing this part of the journey. You can breathe a sigh of relief. But it isn’t quite over yet.

Once your divorce has been granted, there are a few things that need to get done. The process isn’t quite over. There likely will be a few outstanding issues. It will mostly involve paperwork changes that need to get made in different aspects of your life. So, to make it easy, here is a handy checklist you can reference. Check off the ones that apply!

• Check that all documents are filed with the court
• Change the beneficiary name on your 401K
• Change the beneficiary name on your assets
• Changed the beneficiary name on your life insurance
• Change your tax status from “Married” to “Single”
• Switch your auto insurance to your name only
• Exchange all property with your spouse according to the divorce decree
• Sell your house and any other property that must be sold
• Split the proceeds of sales
• Change your name
  • File that name change with Social Security, credit cards, your license, and your passport
• Get a certified copy of the divorce decree
• If you have any debt from the divorce, refinance it in your name
• If you have moved, update your mailing address
• Prepare a new will and other estate documents
  • Change power of attorney
• Change the title of vehicles and property
• Submit division of asset documents to the necessary parties (such as your 401K administrator)
• Close any joint bank accounts
• Open bank accounts in your name
• Close anything else you jointly held with your spouse, such as credit card accounts
• Update your health insurance to either no longer include your spouse or enroll in insurance yourself if you were under theirs
• Be sure to have copies of all documents relating to your children
• Keep Social Security documents related to your spouse if you were married more than 10 years
• If you are eligible for your spouse’s pension, keep those documents as well
• Set up child support payments
• Review this list with your attorney and check it twice
• Take care of yourself, both physically and mentally

How an Attorney Can Help

This list is long, but it is not exhaustive. There may be other things that you need to do, depending on the situation surrounding your divorce. In any case, it is good to review your list with your attorney and make sure you are not missing any critical steps.

The hardest part of the entire process is over. You are divorced, and everything else is administrative work that needs to get done. Soon enough, the entire process will be behind you and you can fully immerse yourself in a new chapter.

If you are running into any issues with your divorce decree, such as custody problems, do not hesitate to return to your divorce lawyer for help. They got you through the divorce process, and they can help with any issues that arise.

Wherever you are in the divorce process, Navarette Bowen P.C. in downtown Denton can help. Contact us to set up a confidential consultation today.