by BARTHOLOMEW & WASZNICKY

Once your divorce decree becomes final, you’ll need to update many documents to reflect your newly single status and change beneficiaries. Many people only consider life insurance policies and updating their driver’s license if they changed their name.  However, there are actually quite a few other documents to consider revising that, if you do not update them, may cause problems down the line when it comes to healthcare decisions and your estate wishes.

1.  Social Security Card. If your divorce decree included a change to your name, you’ll want to change your card and file with the Social Security Administration.

2. Driver’s License. If you changed your name, you’ll want it reflected on your driver’s license as it is the primary means of identifying you.

3.  Property Titles (for real estate, motor vehicles, etc.) If you want to transfer ownership and to reflect a name change.

4.  Retirement Plans and Life Insurance Policy. Update your beneficiaries and change your marital status.

5.  Will & Trust. Again, make sure your beneficiaries are updated and that these reflect your new marital status.

6.  W-4. Important to adjust your number of dependents to reflect your newly single status.

7.  Medical Treatment Authorization and Consent Forms for Children. Your children may not have the same care situations as when you were married, and you might want to make sure whomever is caring for your children is authorized  to help your children get  appropriate medical care.

8.  Medical Power of Attorney and Medical Directives for Healthcare. You’ll probably want to update who has this decision making power should you become incapacitated.

9.HIPPA Authorizations at your doctors’ offices. If these forms reflect allowing information to be left with your ex-spouse, you might want to change this.

These may not be all inclusive of every document you will need to change, but it will help you get most of your documents in order for the next stage of your life.