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When your divorce is finalized, there are still a few tasks you will need to perform to protect yourself and get off to the right start in your new life. The following are a few of the steps you should take as soon as your divorce is official.
- Review your paperwork: Make sure you are familiar with everything that’s included in your divorce judgment or settlement agreement. If there are any action items you have, get them into your calendar so you do not miss any important dates or deadlines.
- Cancel joint accounts: If you still have any joint accounts with your ex-spouse, make sure you cancel them and open up new accounts in your name only as soon as possible. You do not want to be liable for any new debts racked up by your former spouse.
- Change beneficiaries: If you have any beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance policies or various other types of accounts, make sure you change them from your former spouse to someone else.
- Check insurance policies: Insurance policies are often taken out in the name of both you and your spouse. You may be obligated to continue to provide benefits to your ex-spouse, so make sure to comply with those requirements. Otherwise, feel free to cancel existing policies and take out a new one in your name.
- Review your estate plan: If you and your former spouse had created an estate plan together, you’ll need to start over to ensure your estate plan reflects your life as a newly single person.
- Take care of your name change: If you changed your name for your marriage and wish to go back to a previous name, you’ll need to inform various agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Motor Vehicles and other companies where you have accounts.
For further information and advice on the steps you will need to take after your divorce is official, contact a skilled Minnesota divorce lawyer with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
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