Southern California Family Law Attorney Blog

In a divorce, most couples are more concerned about the splitting of assets and belongings and determining who is responsible for the care and well being of children involved in the divorce. Property division and child support are important parts of ending a marriage in California, but there is also another part of being married that should be split when the relationship ends, whether it is a marriage or a domestic partnership. In order to protect both people in the future, all financial partnerships within the relationship may need to be examined.

Because delicate matters are often at the forefront of divorce proceedings, many couples fail to deal with the steps needed to separate other important financial partnerships. Insurance policies that are taken out for life insurance, health insurance, car and home insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance should also be changed after the dissolution of a marriage or domestic partnership.

In the example of health insurance, most working people may be able to obtain health insurance from their current employer if they were previously receiving it from the employer of their spouse. It is also encouraged for divorcees to purchase disability insurance in order to provide for care if the person remains single and becomes ill or injured for a long period of time.

Each of these policies may be handled within divorce documents, and decisions may be made regarding who handles insurance for children before the papers are signed. Any person considering a divorce or the dissolution of a domestic partnership may benefit from hiring an attorney to draft divorce papers that include all the necessary financial adjustments and changes.

Source: Source: Fox Business, "How to uncouple your insurance in divorce," Michele Lerner, May 31, 2013