Divorces aren’t fun for anyone. Your marriage is over, even though you thought it would last forever. Life as you know it has changed forever, and it can take a while to get your bearings and figure out what to do next. Your insurance coverage may not be the first thing on your mind once you file for divorce or even after it’s finalized. Not taking care of your insurance can bring on other, bigger headaches if something happens to you, your home, or your vehicle, though. Take a look at what you’ll need to keep in mind for every type of insurance you carry.
AUTO INSURANCE
While you were married, you had the multi-car discount, a good driver discount, and only one policy to worry about between the two of you. Things are a little different now.
- After one of you moves out, change your policy to reflect the new location of the vehicle.
- Once the divorce is final, remove your ex from the policy if you’re retaining it or purchase a new policy for yourself.
- For those families with young drivers, determine whether one parent or both will cover your child on the auto insurance policy before you make any changes.
HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE
Sometimes the toughest question in a divorce is, “Who gets the house?” Regardless of who stays or who moves out, there are a few considerations.
- Whoever moves out will need a renter’s insurance or homeowner policy for their new home.
- While you’re both listed on your insurance, no changes can be made without the consent of both.
- After your divorce is final, contact your agent to find out what you need to do to have the policy adjusted either out of your name or to remove your ex’s name.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance from an employer is a fairly simple matter for the person who insured the whole family. Once the divorce is final, contact your employer and let them know you’ve had a life change and need to adjust your policy. For the spouse left needing to obtain their own health insurance or if you have children, you’ll need to think about a few things:
- Look for a new plan – either through an employer or by working with your insurance agent.
- Before the divorce is final, figure out who will keep the children on their health insurance. If possible, compare which parent has the better plan. Keep the health and well-being of your children in mind when you have this discussion and forget about who will have to pay more than the other.
LIFE INSURANCE
Hopefully you’ve had a policy for a while. If not, this is the time to purchase one – especially if you’ve got kids. For those who must deal with existing life insurance policies, you’ve got choices.
- If your ex-spouse will be the main caregiver of your children in the event of your untimely death or they are dependent on the alimony they receive, you may want to keep them as the beneficiary of your life insurance.
- You can change the beneficiary from your former spouse to someone else – a trusted friend, your children, etc.
Divorce is never easy, and it’s always stressful. Keep this list handy so you can take care of your insurance with as little hassle as possible. Knowing you’ve taken care of your children, your home, and your health may help you rest a little easier at night. If you’re going through a divorce and need to check your current policies or need new coverage, contact us here at Charlotte Insurance. We can help you protect everyone and everything that matters in your life.
Image courtesy of Flickr user Cordell and Cordell.