Post Divorce Considerations

What should you do after a divorce to get your life back on track? I’ve put together a checklist of seven essential steps to help you fully separate your lives. Some of these steps are more significant, while others might be smaller, but all are crucial. I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney in the New York Metropolitan area for over 30 years. I’ve helped many clients navigate the final stages of divorce and get their lives back in order.

  1. Update Your Estate Plan: After finalizing your settlement agreement, it’s crucial to redo your estate plan. Life has changed, and you need to ensure that your estate plan reflects your new circumstances.
  2. Change Beneficiaries: Update the beneficiaries on your retirement plans, life insurance policies, and other accounts where your spouse was previously named. Consider naming your children or other relevant individuals.
  3. Sort Out Credit Cards: If you had joint credit cards or secondary cards issued to your spouse, make sure to close any joint accounts and destroy any secondary cards to prevent unauthorized use.
  4. Change Titles: Update the title on all assets such as real estate, vehicles, and boats. Ensuring that these titles are correct is important for clear ownership.
  5. Address Retirement Funds: If you need to equalize retirement funds or make transfers, you may require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). This is a critical step that’s often overlooked, so ensure that all retirement fund transfers and related account adjustments are completed.
  6. Update Utility Bills: Clarify whose name is on utility bills and other service accounts to avoid any confusion or unintended liabilities.
  7. Name Change: If you’ve changed your name back to your previous name, update it on your passport, Social Security records, and driver’s license to ensure all documents match.

If you have any questions about these steps or need assistance with post-divorce planning, don’t hesitate to reach out on our email address info@miller-law.com or call us at (914) 685-9805.  I’d be happy to help. Thanks for listening.