Start with a plan first. Create your own specific plan or checklist
During the divorce process you completed a Financial Inventory so you likely have in your possession a copy of these documents. This should be the roadmap for creating your plan or checklist. In Connecticut, this Financial Inventory is called the Financial Affidavit. In Massachusetts, this is called a Financial Statement while in New York this is called the Statement of Net Worth. From your financial inventory, create your plan to include all the assets, liabilities, bank account, insurance information, etc. Attached at the bottom of this article you can find a “sample” to get you started.
Obtain a copy of the Certified Divorce Decree from the Court.
If you worked with an attorney or divorce mediator, the firm should be sending you information on how you can obtain the certified divorce decree or obtain this on your behalf for an additional fee. If you do not have this information please contact the Court that issued your divorce directly and ask for all the information necessary, fees etc that you will need in order for you to obtain the certified divorce decree or judgment. You will need a Certified Copy and the fees are usually higher for this service. In Connecticut, the fee is $25.00 as of 2022. You may also be able to obtain this in person directly from the Court, however, this is never guaranteed, hence call first.
Now that you have your Certified Divorce Decree, where should you start?
- Driver license: Change your name (and address, if needed) and obtain a new Driver’s license or state ID card.
- Social Security: Change your name with the Social Security Administration
- Passport: If you travel internationally update your passport
- Income: Paystub and employer
- Bank: Update your bank accounts
- Credit Cards and Credit: Update all your open or active credit card accounts, lines of credit. Review your credit report and identify all your active lines of credit, credit cards, and any form of debt.
- Credit Card companies (Request new cards with updated name)
- Automobiles: Update your vehicle title, update your vehicle registration, update your town records for car taxes or homeowner taxes
- Voter Registration information
- Medical insurance cards
- Life Insurance Policies
- Car insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- 401 (k) information by informing the bank that you have a new name.
- Pension
- IRS
- Mortgage, taxes insurance
- United States Postal Service
- Department of State
- TSA
- Frequent Flyer Miles