Divorce Checklist: Still More to Do
Going through a divorce is a stressful time in anyone’s life. When the judge pronounces, “You are divorced,” there’s the immediate reaction of relief and a sense of finality.
For some people, when they leave the Court, it is final.
However, for many others, there is still a lot of work left to do.
If you’re one of the lucky ones with work left to do, it’s helpful to have a divorce checklist to guide you through that process.
Divorce Checklist: Avoiding Further Litigation
Some divorces result in further litigation after the divorce. What you don’t want to happen is to end up in post-divorce enforcement litigation because you or your spouse did not do all the things you agreed or were ordered to do.
With that said, here is a divorce checklist of things for you to think through and do after your divorce is complete.
Divorce Checklist: In All Divorces
- File the proper paperwork in the District Clerk’s Office to inform the Texas Department of Vital Statistics of the Divorce — Form VS-165.
- Get a new will!
Divorce Checklist: Property and Monetary Issues
- Transfer all of the property in the divorce decree, including personal property (jewelry, clothes, etc.) or real property (land, houses, etc.).
- Ensure your spouse receives any property that you owe to them.
- If real property (a house) is changing hands, make sure that you (or your spouse) execute a deed to transfer the property. Execute it as it’s stated in the divorce decree, typically through a special warranty deed or deed without warranty. Quitclaim deeds are popular, but not advisable.
- Change the titles for any vehicles, boats, airplanes, etc.
- If you are dividing a retirement fund or pension plan in the divorce, make sure to complete all the steps in the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (“QDRO” – pronounced Quadro in Texas).
- Inform your insurance companies of any change in ownership.
- Refinance your house if ordered to in the divorce decree to remove your former spouse’s name.
- Update your beneficiaries on any life insurance policies.
- Update your health insurance policies.
- Remove your name from debts or loans that are no longer yours.
Divorce Checklist: Child-Related Issues
- Make sure you make all scheduled visitation times with your children.
- When it’s your ex-spouse’s time with the children, make sure they get to exercise that time — do NOT interfere with their time.
- Try to reach agreements beforehand concerning any necessary changes in schedule.
- Pay your child support on time.
Divorce Checklist: Personal Issues and Name Changes
- Notify the Social Security Administration.
- Get a new driver’s license.
- Notify your banks or other financial institutions and ensure they have your new name on file as well as your previous married name.
- Update your name and address on all accounts.
- Notify any creditors of your new name and address. You do not want debts to pile up, because they will eventually catch up with you.
- Do NOT get remarried in fewer than 30 days from the date of your divorce.
Contact Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant
This after-divorce checklist does not cover every issue that may arise after a divorce.
However, if you follow all of the items on the divorce checklist, the odds of avoiding court after your divorce definitely improve.
If you need to visit with a lawyer concerning something that happened after your divorce, then contact the family law attorneys at Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant.
Give us a call to set up a consultation at (940) 387-3518, or contact us here.
