Just when you think you’re done, you get pulled right back in. If
you thought something along those lines as you read the title of today’s
blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC I can’t say that I
blame you. Anyone who has been through a divorce can tell you that it
is without a doubt one of the longest, most difficult and emotionally
taxing events that you can ever go through. This is true whether the divorce
actually was that difficult or it just seemed that way.
I’m sure that what you want to do right now is kick up your heels
and then put them onto a couch and take a long, relaxing break from anything
having to do with “real life.” Whether your divorce is now
over or whether you are just starting out I am here to tell you that the
day you finalize your divorce is not the day to rest on the laurels of
this accomplishment.
A good attorney will tell you what you need to know. A good attorney will
tell you things that you like to hear but will also not hesitate to tell
you the things that you need to hear that will not necessarily make you
the happiest person in the world. Your attorney’s job is not to
make you happy. It is to represent you diligently and competently to help
you achieve whatever goals you have in your divorce. This is true for
advice that your attorney will provide you with during your case and for
your life immediately after your case is over with.
With that said, I would like to share with you some things that you should
do in the time period immediately after your divorce has become final.
While you won’t feel fresh as a daisy doing them, you will look
back years later and appreciate the fact that you took care of business
sooner rather than later.
Think about the children!
More specifically: think about YOUR children. I’m sure that you just
spent the entirety of your divorce thinking about them, but now that the
ink is dry on your final decree of divorce it is time to think about you
need to do in order to tie up any loose ends associated with your kids’ lives.
For instance, you should go to each of your children’s schools and
provide them with a certified copy of your final decree of divorce. That
way if there are any custody related issues regarding your children the
school will have something to go off of. For example, if your ex-spouse
were to try and pick your children up from school on a weekend that wasn’t
theirs the school would have paperwork to show that he or she is not supposed
to do that. Trust me on this one- I have had schools and parents alike
call me on Friday afternoons around 4:00 p.m. to complain about fathers
and mothers picking up kids over the complaints of the other parent.
It is also wise to contact doctors, dentists, therapists, coaches and any
other persons that your children come into contact with on a frequent
basis to make them aware that you and your ex-spouse are now divorced.
There may be no formal need to do so but it is helpful to provide information
to people that impact the lives of your child. If nothing else you can
help him or her to avoid awkward interactions and subjects either parents
and children.
Finally, you need to get in touch with the Office of The Attorney General
Child Support Division after your divorce if you are the parent who has
been ordered to pay child support. These are the folks that will remove
money from each of your checks in order to automatically pay child support.
You should learn as much as you can about the process and any ins and
outs that go into it. Ask your attorney about how it works so that you
have a thorough understanding. If you are told something that does not
make sense you should ask questions until it does.
Name change for women
It is often times requested in conjunction with a divorce for a woman to
change her name back to her maiden name at the conclusion of a divorce.
Husbands do not have any say so in the matter. I have had husbands ask
me if they can either force their ex-wife to change her name or force
their ex-wife to keep her married name. The answer to either question
is no. You couldn’t force your wife to take or not take your last
name when you got married and the same rule applies now.
If you requested your name change that doesn’t do anything for you
except provide you with the opportunity to take the
final decree of divorce to the folks who can actually (legally) change your name. The Social Security
Administration will need a copy of your birth certificate and final decree
of divorce in order to change your name back to your maiden name. Once
you have changed your legal name you can take it to the Department of
Motor Vehicles, your company’s human resources department or any
other entity where your name is used in order to update it.
This is the step that so many people just wait on. It is all a process
and is not fun so people just don’t want to take the time to do
it. Again, do it now rather than wait and you can save yourself from needlessly
putting more work on your plate later on in your life.
Update life insurance policies and your will
The last thing you want to do after a long divorce is turn around and have
something happen to you where your ex-spouse would stand to inherit money
or the proceeds of a life insurance policy instead of your children or
other family member. The way to combat this is to change the beneficiaries
on your life insurance policy and to update your will as fast as you can.
Some courts and some cases will require that you wait to do so. Technically
you are still married during your divorce. Otherwise, as soon as you are
no longer married to your spouse take care of this as quickly as possible.
There is no reason to wait and the risks to not doing so are tremendous
Sign and file any legal documents that are relevant
This typically applies to people who have had property (usually real property)
transferred to them or by them to their ex-spouse.
Special Warranty Deeds and Deeds of Trust to Secure Assumption are two that come to mind specifically
when it comes to your marital home. If you are deeding your share of your
home to your spouse then you will sign a Special Warranty Deed to him
or her. A Deed of Trust to Secure Assumption is signed by your spouse
and given to you to protect you from any missed payments on the house
note in the even that he or she cannot refinance the note.
Whatever position you are in you should file your documents with the court
and have copies available to you. Many attorneys will do this for free.
If yours offers this service you should check in a few weeks after your
divorce has finalized to make sure that it has been done.
Questions on closing out a divorce? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
The attorneys and staff with the
Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC take seriously the responsibility that we have to our clients from the
moment you sign a contract with us until your case has been closed out
and finalized. Each step of the process is planned out for you so that
no steps are missed and each client has their needs met.
If you have questions about anything that you’ve read today please
do not hesitate to
contact us. We offer free of charge consultations six days a week with one of our
licensed family law attorneys.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
