You settled your divorce, and you signed your stipulation of settlement. You and your soon-to-be ex have dotted all your Is and crossed all your Ts, but now what do you do?
Are you divorced? No – It’s Not Over Until the Judge Signs the Judgment
Understand, the agreement does not make you officially divorced. You are not officially divorced until a Judge signs the Judgment of Divorce. This is the case even if your divorce was uncontested and you and your ex agreed on everything. However, the stipulation of settlement/agreement that you both signed is a legally binding contract and you must live pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
Make Your List and Check it Twice!
After you sign your divorce agreement there are some things you can immediately take care of to ensure that the coming days, weeks, and months are as smooth as possible.
- Open a new bank account for collection of any alimony or child support.
- Understand your medical insurance. If you are a dependent on your ex’s or vice versa, you need to know the legal parameters of when you are no longer covered.
- Consider what will happen to future shared income.
- Consider whether transfer of title to cars needs to be signed.
- Consider whether you need to take any steps to obtain your soon-to-be ex’s retirement monies.
Don’t Be Shy, Ask Questions
Life after marriage can be confusing and many people feel like they are in limbo. You are facing a whole new set of circumstances, a new lifestyle, and a lot of change. The best thing to do is always ask your attorney any questions that you may have. Never assume or take the word of your ex or their attorney. Make sure you have someone on your side.
