Post Divorce Checklist
Immediately
If you are paying child support and/or alimony to your former spouse, set up monthly or bi-weekly payments
If you are receiving child support and/or alimony from your former spouse, provide your bank account details so he/she can set up payments
For each pension/401k/retirement plan being divided or transferred, make sure that a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) has been prepared, signed and certified by the Court, and submitted to the fund administrator
Obtain a certified copy of your divorce decree from the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse
Notify your employer of your change in marital status
Close joint bank and credit card accounts
If your former spouse is conveying real property to you, get a quitclaim deed and conveyance tax return from your former spouse
If you are conveying real property to your former spouse, provide him/her with a quitclaim deed and conveyance tax return
Record your quitclaim deed on the land records in your Town Clerk’s office
Update the children’s schools about contact information of you and former spouse, emergency contacts, school pick-ups/drop-offs, etc.
Divide all personal property as specified in the separation agreement/divorce decree
Change the name on utility bills to reflect who is now responsible
Within 30 days
If you are receiving a transfer of funds from your former spouse’s IRA, open a suitable account to which the funds can be transferred and complete any forms required by the Plan
Execute all necessary COBRA documents to ensure continued health insurance coverage, or make sure that your ex-spouse has done the same
Change motor vehicle titles to reflect ownership as specified in the separation agreement/divorce decree
Notify your auto insurer of any changes in automobile drivers, ownership, and addresses
Make sure that your name has been removed from any debts or loans that are no longer your responsibility
If you change your name (such as reverting to your maiden name), notify all of your creditors of the change
If you move, notify all of your creditors of your change of address
Notify Social Security Administration of your name change
Apply for a driver’s license with your new name on it
Change your name on your bank accounts and checks, or open new accounts in your new name
Change your address on your bank accounts and checks
Change the beneficiary on your life insurance policy, if permissible under the separation agreement/divorce decree
Obtain life insurance naming your former spouse and/or children as beneficiaries to ensure continued support if you should die, if required by the separation agreement/divorce decree
Within 1 to 12 months
Apply for credit in your own name
Obtain a new copy of your credit report to make sure that the accounts you closed were really closed and that the credit agency file has been updated
Prepare a new will, advance directive (living will) and estate documents
Take all other actions required by the separation agreement/divorce decree
Remove your former spouse’s name from your lease or mortgage if required by the separation agreement/divorce decree
Ongoing
If you change jobs, notify your new employer of any court-ordered support, if required by law to do so, to effectuate continued automatic withholding
Keep your scheduled visitation times with your children
If you were married for 10+ years, you may have a claim against your former spouse’s Social Security. When you become eligible for Social Security, you can receive either 100% of your benefit entitlement, or the equivalent of 50% of your former spouse’s entitlement (www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html)
Keep records of payment or receipt of alimony/maintenance, child support and other support payments made to, or received from your former spouse; don’t pay in cash – use checks or bank transfers
Keep records of your children’s medical costs, including insurance claims, co- pays, etc.
If co-parenting is an issue, keep records of how the visits with the other parent went and any specific problems that may have arisen
Make sure you have the Social Security numbers of your former spouse and your children – you may need them for tax returns
You may need your former spouse to sign an IRS Form 8332 to indicate what your agreement is regarding claiming the children as exemptions (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8332.pdf)