The divorce judgment may appear to be the end of the road for a couple deciding to end its relationship. The judgment finalizes the divorce, details how the court will split the couple”s property, determines child visitation rights and provides for child or spousal support.
Important considerations remain, however, even after a court renders its divorce judgment. Name changes, amendments to your will and helping your children cope with the divorce, for example, are just some of the important considerations spouses should have following a divorce. If you are concerned for your rights after a divorce, a Houston divorce attorney can guide you through the process and explain your options.
Legal and Financial Tips
Recently divorced people, particularly women who used their husbands” last names, should keep certified copies of their final divorce judgment at hand. Other parties like banks or government agencies may require the judgment in the following instances:
- Purchasing a large item such as a car or home
- Changing your name on an official document such as a driver”s license, passport, or Social Security card
- Changing your name on credit cards or bank accounts
- Entering into transactions such as transferring real estate (which may entail research into the title of the property and the owners” names)
Ex-spouses should also keep documents that pertain to aspects of the divorce judgment, including spousal support and child support rulings. Parties are often involved in spousal and child support disputes following a divorce, as they may contest who paid what amount of money, when one side paid it and when the other received it. Additionally, such support is tax deductible for the paying spouse, so the IRS may challenge the amount that the spouse paid. Adequate documentation regarding the divorce decree and support payments helps to avoid having to go back into court to settle a divorce-related dispute.
One of the first things you need to do after a divorce is to have a new will prepared and change all of your beneficiary designations on life insurance, 401k”s , IRA”s, annuities, pensions, bank signature cards, and any other thing that has a beneficiary designation. A Houston property division lawyer can advise you how to make these changes and how the divorce will affect property distributions on death.
Caring for Your Family and Children
Aside from financial and legal issues following a divorce, you should also keep in mind perhaps the most important impact of a divorce – its emotional effect on your family and children. In most cases, children have to undergo the divorce with little input into the process. All they know is that their mother and father will no longer live together.
The following are some guidelines to help you ensure you”re and children”s happiness following a divorce:
- Remember that the marriage ended between you and your spouse, but that your children”s relationship with their parents does not have to suffer as a result
- Avoid talking poorly of your ex-spouse to your children, or trying to influence their opinion of him or her
- Deal with your ex-spouse in a professional, business-like manner; remember that your children”s well-being and happiness are your top priority
For more information on how to manage a divorce and its effects, contact a Houston property division attorney at John K. Grubb & Associates, PC.
