Gentlemen reading divorce paperwork in his kitchen.

Planning for the recently divorced

Provided by
Gentlemen reading divorce paperwork in his kitchen.

When you find yourself going through a divorce there are typical steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Being "suddenly single" can be an emotional and financial roller coaster. It can happen at any age and means that you are in charge of your personal finances. So, it's important to find the right people and resources to help make decisions on financial issues you might not be familiar with. When you have control over your finances, other decisions are easier and the transition to a new life is less stressful.

Create a plan

For better or worse, we all have a "paper" trail. Following that trail makes creating a plan easier:

  • Obtain copies of all key documents such as the divorce decree, bank and brokerage accounts, credit cards, IRS records and insurance policies.
  • Close all joint accounts and open new bank, credit card and other accounts in your single name.
  • Dis-inherit your former spouse. Create a new will and other needed estate planning documents and change the beneficiaries on your life insurance, 401k, IRA and pension accounts.
  • Create and follow a realistic budget. Keep monthly payments on track so your credit isn't impaired.

If you're a single parent ― protect yourself and the kids

Be sure you have enough life and disability insurance to protect the children in case something happens to you. As a part of your new estate plan, detail your wishes for the care of your children if you're not around or are no longer able to care for them.

Maximize your employee benefits

Be sure to explore all of the benefits your employer offers ― and use the ones that make the most sense for you and those in your household. Employer-sponsored group health insurance, group term life insurance, and qualified retirement plans are valuable employee benefits.

Reassess your long-term goals

Take the time to reassess your long-term goals, such as planning for retirement or funding college for the children. Is more education needed to reach your personal and professional goals?

  • To reach your retirement goals, make maximum use of employer-provided plans such as a 401k, 403b, or pension plans. Consider a traditional or Roth IRA to supplement employer plans.
  • Review any existing college funding plans. A reduction in household income may make additional financial aid available. High school counselors can help determine what options are available.
  • Don't forget to think of yourself. Where do you want to go in life?

And get the professional help you need

Talk to friends and family for referrals to people they work with and trust. Make a list of your most important concerns and find experienced professionals in those areas.

These materials were reproduced with the permission of Advisys, Inc. No State Farm® entity prepared these materials nor does State Farm represent or warranty the opinions or statements expressed therein. These materials are being provided for information purposes only.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

Start a quote

Select a product to start a quote.

Find agents near
you or contact us

There’s one ready to offer personalized service to fit your specific needs.

Related articles

Tips for managing your life insurance after divorce

Getting a divorce? You may want to review your life insurance for these reasons.

What to consider when choosing a beneficiary

What factors should you consider when choosing a beneficiary?

Ways to save for college and the average costs

Learn ways you can start saving for college now such as 529, Coverdell & Uniform Gift to Minors as well as the average cost of college.

Divorce checklist

When divorcing there are many considerations such as legal aspects, children, division of wealth, and establishing a different life.