What to Do If You Need to Change Your Will and Beneficiaries After Divorce

After finalizing a divorce, many people overlook one of the most crucial steps to protect their future and loved ones: updating their estate plan. Hi, I’m Tim Blankenship from Divorce661, and I want to walk you through why it’s essential to review and revise your will, beneficiary designations, and legal directives after divorce—and how neglecting these updates can lead to unintended consequences.

Why Divorce Does Not Automatically Update Your Will or Beneficiaries

It’s a common misconception that once your divorce is finalized, your estate plan automatically adjusts to reflect your new circumstances. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Your will and beneficiary designations remain exactly as they were unless you take deliberate action to change them.

If your will still names your ex-spouse as the primary beneficiary or executor, your assets could legally pass to them despite the divorce. Similarly, beneficiary designations on accounts like life insurance policies, retirement plans, and bank accounts override the instructions in your will. If these still list your ex, they remain entitled to those assets.

How to Create a New Will That Reflects Your Post-Divorce Wishes

The first step is to review your existing will carefully. If your ex-spouse is named as a beneficiary or executor, it’s critical to draft a new will that reflects your updated intentions. Consider these important questions:

• Who should inherit your property now?
• If you have minor children, who should act as their guardian?
• Who do you trust to manage your estate?

Creating a new will ensures your estate is distributed according to your current wishes and not outdated documents.

Where to Check and Update Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations are powerful because they take precedence over your will. It’s essential to review and update these on all applicable accounts, such as:

• Life insurance policies
• Retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s
• Bank accounts with payable-on-death (POD) instructions

Failing to update these can result in your ex-spouse receiving assets you intended for others. For example, we worked with a client who assumed her divorce judgment had removed her ex as the beneficiary of her life insurance policy. Years later, she discovered the designation was never changed, potentially jeopardizing her children’s inheritance. We helped her update the documents and avoid a major issue down the road.

Reviewing Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

In addition to wills and beneficiary designations, it’s vital to revisit your powers of attorney and healthcare directives. If your ex is currently authorized to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf, these documents must be revoked and replaced with trusted individuals.

This step safeguards your interests and ensures that decisions about your health and finances are made by people you trust in the event you are unable to do so yourself.

How Divorce661 Can Help You Protect Your Assets and Loved Ones

At Divorce661, we understand that the post-divorce process involves more than just the court judgment. We guide you through essential follow-up steps like updating your estate documents and beneficiary designations to prevent costly mistakes and protect your legacy.

Our flat-fee divorce services include comprehensive post-divorce support, helping you stay organized and making sure nothing important is missed. Whether you need to revise your will, update beneficiaries, or change your legal directives, we provide 100% remote services across California to meet your needs.

Take Action Today to Secure Your Future

If you’ve recently finalized your divorce, don’t wait to update your estate plan. Protect your assets and ensure your wishes are honored by reviewing and revising your will, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney.

Visit Divorce661.com to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

Have You Updated Your Estate Plan After Divorce?

We’d love to hear from you. Share your experiences or ask questions to help others navigate this important step in the divorce process.