Divorce Cleanup Tips

Posted on: 9 November 2019

After you have had a divorce, there are many things that you should consider doing afterward to make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible as you begin your new life. Make sure that you don't leave some loose ends in place. 

Reestablish Your Credit

You'll need to make sure that any debts that you hold have been paid off, and you'll want to start reestablishing credit. You'll likely need to obtain your own credit so that you can improve your credit score, especially if financial woes were a contributing factor in your divorce.  

Create a Plan for How to Co-Parent

If you have kids, you'll need to establish a way in which you can communicate with your ex about the kids. There will likely be many activities that your child will be involved in that affect the other parent. You will want a calendar that includes a list of these activities. 

Replace Items That You Have Lost

You'll want to begin acquiring possessions to replace the ones that you lost. For example, if your ex-spouse was allowed to keep the car, you'll have to purchase a new one. You may need to find a new place to stay. Ideally, you will want to resolve these issues early in the divorce process so that you don't have to rush to resolve them later on. 

Change Your Name on Every Account

If you changed your name, you will need to have your name changed back and put your own name on every account. For example, you may need to contact the electric company and have your last name officially changed in their files.

You May Still Need a Divorce Lawyer

If you're not sure if there is anything else you should do as you clean up after your divorce, the best thing you can do is get in contact with a divorce lawyer. Because of all the experience a divorce lawyer has with this aspect of life, he or she will be able to guide you toward making the right decisions. 

One of the services that a divorce lawyer can offer is to enter a special Qualified Domestic Relations Order. This will allow you to divide a retirement account. Your lawyer will also handle a lot of the paperwork that is necessary for banks and credit card companies, but this is typically expensive, and you can also do all of this yourself.

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