You’re finally at the finish line – your divorce is almost finalized, but you might be asking yourself: now what? If you believe that there’s going to be some work still to do after the divorce decree is received, you’re correct. Here’s a quick checklist to run through to ensure you’ve done everything you need to do following your divorce.
If you’re getting or are contemplating a divorce in Arizona, contact Tempe divorce lawyer Adriana Blanchette at Blanchette Law PLLC today. Adriana has years of experience as an attorney and a family law mediator, and as a mother, she understands the emotional turmoil (and freedom) that divorce can cause. To schedule your consultation, call (602) 881-1748.
Complete all terms contained in your divorce decree
Obtain a copy of your final divorce decree and do all things required of you in the decree, including in the property division section, or ensuring that your co-parent has been added to your children’s emergency contact information if they weren’t already listed or if you were ordered to add them.
The property division aspects of your final judgment might require you to:
- Refinance a home or loan into your sole name to remove your former spouse from that obligation
- Remove your former spouse from your banking, investment, retirement, or credit card accounts
- Close jointly-held accounts
- Conduct the division of the marital estate as outlined in your agreement or decree
- Issue an equalizing payment to your spouse in order to complete the equitable division of the marital estate
- Sign the title to any vehicles or property that were awarded to your former spouse or ensure they sign any that were awarded to you
- If the division of any retirement accounts needs to occur through a specific instrument, such as through a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), ensure that those are completed and filed
- If not prohibited by your decree, remove your former spouse from all insurance policies.
If, as part of your divorce, you opted to revert to your maiden name, ensure that you update your:
- Social security card
- Driver’s license or ID card
- Car title and registration
- Bank accounts
- Passport
- Insurance policies
Other important tasks and documentation
Although they aren’t part of the divorce, there are several other pieces of information you’ll want to change or update following your divorce. Although your attorney can discuss a list that’s more tailored to your specific situation, generally, the following should be done after a divorce:
- Ensure your mailing address is correct for all accounts and for all important documents, including setting up mail forwarding if necessary
- Change all passwords, security questions, and recovery emails/phone numbers for the electronic access to all accounts including financial accounts, email accounts, social media, cloud storage drives, iCloud, etc., and ensure that all other devices that were previously connected to those accounts are disconnected or removed from access.
- If it’s not prohibited by your judgment, update the beneficiaries on all retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other accounts
- Update your tax withholdings through your employer
- Create a new estate plan
Need help finalizing your divorce? Call Blanchette Law PLLC
If you feel that your divorce has stalled or if you’re just starting and you don’t know where to start or what to do, don’t hesitate to contact Tempe divorce lawyer Adriana Blanchette. The longer you wait, the more daunting your divorce will seem. Call (602) 881-1748 today to schedule your consultation.
