Life Event
Going Through Divorce
Divorce requires fast separation of policies, updated beneficiaries, and a new liability/asset baseline for each household.
Timing: Within 30 days of decree.
Coverage adjustments
Auto
Issue separate policies — leaving an ex on yours creates liability exposure
Home
Whoever keeps the home gets named insured; the other party drops
Life
Update beneficiaries; court order may require maintaining coverage for child support
Priorities
- Split auto policies
- Reassign home/renters
- Update all beneficiaries
- Recalculate life and disability
Checklist
- Update beneficiary forms within 30 days of decree
- Cancel joint coverage as soon as decree is final
- Re-shop both policies — single rates differ
Risk alerts
- Failing to update beneficiary leaves ex-spouse legally entitled in many states