Divorce Checklist: Guide from a Texas Family Law Attorney

Divorce Checklist

A final divorce decree is not the final step in the process of getting divorced. There is still work that needs to be done on your case for you and your legal team. There are still a lot of things that need to be done by you and some of the things are time sensitive.

This is not an all-inclusive list of things that need to be completed and done but it does provide an outline of the most important things. Remember most of these things need to be completed in a timely manner. Timely manners are defined in most cases within 30 – 45 days of the change.

  • DMV: A name change, or address change will require you to change your driver’s license. Find your local DMV and take your final decree of divorce with you showing the name change and any other forms that the DMV requires for the address change.
  • Social Security Administration: If your name was changed in the process of the divorce you will need to change your social security card as well.
  • Property Titles: Real estate, vehicles, etc. transferring ownership or changing the name on the title to reflect a name change or just changing the name to yours should be done in a timely manner.
  • Employers: Speak with your employer/HR department to update your W-4 to reflect correctly for tax purposes (speaking with a tax attorney of your choice is important). It is important to update your beneficiaries for any life insurance through work or retirement plans. Make sure to update medical coverage to reflect yourself and/or yourself and children.
  • Estate Planning: Executing a new will, trusts, power of attorney and medical directives for healthcare, HIPAA authorizations, beneficiaries, administrators, and trustees for your estate should be updated. Speak with the Denis Law Group today so we can help you with this.
  • Insurance Polices: Speak with your insurance agent to discuss ownership of your home, car and medical insurance moving forward.
  • Banking: Make sure you open a new account if you were not awarded any of the marital accounts. Make sure to timely close any marital accounts as ordered in the final decree of divorce. Make sure all beneficiaries are updated as well.
  • Utilities: These accounts should reflect the person keeping these accounts.
  • Passwords: Make sure all passwords are changed on all accounts that are online.
  • Update Creditors: Make sure all your creditors are updated with your mailing address, name changes or other personal information needed.