Now that your divorce in Nevada is complete, there are just a few things that still need to be taken care of. You have your decree of divorce and you are set to start a new life. What do you need to do to protect yourself? Let Nevada Collaborative be your guide through your Reno divorce with the important steps listed below:
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- Read your Decree of Divorce. This sounds obvious. But if there are any errors, there is a very limited window to get them corrected. As you’re reviewing the document, calendar any due dates in your Decree. Sometimes you are required to provide information or complete certain actions within a set time after your Reno divorce. Check your Decree for actions that you need to take or that your former spouse needs to take and put them on your calendar.
- Get everything into your own name. Confirm that the property you were awarded is held in your name. If it’s not, you will need to take steps to get your property in your name. This includes vehicle titles, bank accounts, and any real estate. You’ll need to do this for debts as well. If your former spouse was awarded a debt, make sure your name is removed. If you were awarded a debt and your former spouse’s name is to be removed, you’ll need to take steps to do that. This may mean refinancing a loan on a vehicle or home. Contact the lender to find out what steps are necessary. Ensure joint accounts are closed. And most importantly, secure your digital data. If you haven’t already reset your passwords, now’s the time.
- Check your beneficiaries on all accounts. This includes retirement accounts, bank accounts, life insurance policies, and any asset that passes by way of a beneficiary designation. Make sure that your beneficiaries are updated so that your former spouse will not inherit the assets that were awarded to you. If your Decree says you get a retirement account, but you don't take your former spouse off the beneficiary designation, your spouse will end up with the asset when you die. While you're at it, notify your insurance providers for auto insurance and homeowners or renters insurance. You may need to update insured drivers, your address, or other changes since your divorce.
- Update your estate plan. This is true for everyone, not just folks we think of as wealthy. Estate planning is for everyone, especially if you have children. Create a new will or trust. You may also need to update or create powers of attorney. While you were married, your spouse had certain rights to decide your medical care if you were incapacitated. A Healthcare power of attorney will allow you to decide who makes those decisions now.
- Change your name. Everywhere. If you have changed your name in the decree, you need to change important documents like your driver’s license, social security card, and passport to reflect your name change. This is a similar process to changing your name after marriage. You’ll need to notify certain people as well- banks, creditors, insurance providers, your kids’ school, your employer, and anyone else with whom you do business.
- Change your address. More often than not, divorce in Nevada involves a move for one or both parties. If that’s the case, make sure you update your address with the DMV, banks, creditors, insurance providers, your employer, and anyone else with whom you do business. If you have children, you will need to notify their school. You will also need to notify the other parent of your new address any time you move.
- Make sure that you take possession of all property awarded to you. Again, there is a limited time to do this. This means picking up personal property, taking possession of vehicles, moving funds from divided accounts if necessary. For the division of retirement accounts, you may need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). It is your responsibility to make sure this is prepared, entered by the Court, and implemented. It is often prepared by a different attorney than handled your divorce in Nevada.
- Make sure you’re covered. If your spouse was providing your health insurance, you’ll need to execute COBRA documents to continue coverage under that policy. Alternatively, you may need to present your Decree of Divorce in order to obtain coverage through your employer outside open enrollment.
- Follow your Decree of Divorce. If you are ordered to pay support, pay it. Make sure you exercise your custodial time with your children. Make sure you are timely providing bills for shared expenses, such as medical bills and extracurricular activities. Keep the other parent advised of appointments, meetings, or other information regarding your children. Communicate with the other parent regarding your children. There are platforms specifically designed for this purpose, namely Talking Parents and Our Family Wizard, which can make keeping up with information about your kids much easier.
- Recover. Divorce in Nevada is overwhelming. It is one of the most stressful experiences you will have, even if it is amicable. Honoring that struggle and giving yourself the time and space to heal will ensure you have a solid foundation upon which to build a new life. Who are you now? Who will you become? The power is yours to reclaim your life. You can’t rewrite the past, but you can decide where your story goes from here.
Let Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals Represent You in Your Reno Divorce
The knowledgeable and professional attorneys at Nevada Collaborative Divorce use the combination of legal, mental health, and financial professionals that are dedicated to representing your case. Our goal is to guide and support you through the Reno divorce process with compassion and care. What makes our services so unique is that we offer an entire team of professionals well-versed in their respective fields to assist you. Reno divorce attorneys, financial specialists, and mental health professionals make up your “Collaborative team”.
Nevada Collaborative Divorce Professionals work together to help contesting parties resolve their disagreements efficiently and respectfully outside of court. Connect with us today and see how our team can help your Reno divorce stay out of courtroom litigation!
About the Author: Gloria Petroni
Gloria M. Petroni grew up on a farm in Yerington, Nevada. Her Italian father, who came to the U.S. at just 16 years old, was determined to make a better life for himself, a trait he also instilled in his children. With her father’s determination in mind, Ms. Petroni became the first lawyer in her family. She takes her mission of providing excellent representation based upon trust and respect seriously as she works for her clients day after day. Ms. Petroni believes that every client is entitled to dignity and support from their law firm and from their lawyer, and to know that they are in a safe place where their confidential matters are protected in the highest regard. Outside of her practice, she enjoys outdoor sports such as wakeboarding, skiing, golfing, and hiking. She’s up for any new travel or outdoor adventure.
