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Divorce Strategies Group

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Denise French

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mediation

What is a QDRO?

February 23, 2023 By Denise French, CVA, MAFF, CDFA, CRPC

What Is a QDRO?

A QDRO, pronounced “kwa-dro”, or Qualified Domestic Relations Order, is a court order granting a non-employee spouse the right to part of the retirement benefits their former spouse has accumulated in their company’s retirement plan. 

If you are divorcing a spouse with a company retirement plan governed by The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or ERISA such as a 401k or a pension plan, you will need a QDRO to receive those funds.   The QDRO process has a definitive flow, its own terminology and can take some time to complete. We will walk through an example of a couple where the husband works at ABC Company and the wife is receiving a portion of the ABC Company 401k from her husband.  In this example we will walk through the process from settlement in mediation to QDRO funds receipt to give the reader a better understanding of QDRO terminology, how the process works and the timeline.   

 

QDRO Terminology

Terminology with QDRO’s is important but thankfully, fairly straightforward: 

  • Plan: This is the specific retirement plan to which the order applies. You need a QDRO for each plan. For example, if you are divorcing an ExxonMobil employee, you could be awarded a portion of ExxonMobil 401k and the ExxonMobil pension plan. Those are two different plans and two different QDRO’s will be needed. (Note there are other plans at ExxonMobil for certain employees such as Restricted Stock Units and Supplement Pension Plans – those are not ERISA plans and do not need QDROs but have their own issues we will cover in a separate article).
  • Participant: This is the individual who will be assigning his or her benefits to an alternate payee. This is the spouse who works for the company and whose name the plan is under.   
  • Alternate Payee: This is the individual (usually a former spouse) who will receive the benefits.
  • Address of Record:  The address on the QDRO form for the alternate payee and the participant is what will be used by the QDRO department to communicate with you.  It is critical to have the correct address listed as this is how you will receive communication. 

Description of Benefits

The order must clearly articulate the benefit to be assigned to the alternate payee. The order could use a flat dollar amount or a formula.

Here are two examples:

  • Flat dollar amount: $500,000
  • Formula: 50% of the participant’s vested account balance as of January 1, 2023, adjusted for any investment gains or losses, stock splits, dividends and/or interest from January 1, 2023 through the date of distribution.

In a turbulent market such as 2022, this is a critical element to understand.  If you were awarded 50% of a 401k balance in April of 2022 which was invested in growth stocks, and then didn’t take receipt until August of 2022 – that balance may be much lower over the time period.  Likewise, if you only owned oil and gas stock during that same time period, you may be very happy you were awarded gains and losses as the account could have grown considerably.   We cannot over-emphasize the importance of considering investment performance as there is a lag between the determination date (January 1, 2023 in the above example) and the date the benefits are actually set aside for the alternate payee (August of 2023 in our example below).

It’s important to understand if you are receiving a flat dollar amount or a percentage split and if the percentages include gains, losses, interest, and dividends.  (And no, you will not usually get an opposing attorney to agree that you only participate in the gains but not the losses.)   

Which option is better?  Well, that depends.  When and if we suggest flat dollar amounts in QDRO’s it is because the parties have usually agreed to a set amount as part of an overall division and for a specific purpose – like paying off debt or purchasing a new house.   Our concern is always if you are awarded a set dollar amount, what happens if the market falls and those dollars do not exist months later when the QDRO order is completed?   That becomes an issue. 

Awarding the alternate payee a portion of the account on a percentage basis with gains, losses, dividends and interest from the date of division to the date of distribution is certainly more prevalent in our experience.  This is more prevalent as both parties participate fully in the risk or reward of the markets from the time of division until the funds are distributed. 

QDRO Timeline – April Division to August Receipt of Funds

It takes several months from the date of division to the date of receipt. Let’s continue with our example. Jane and John went to mediation on April 2.  In mediation, the parties agreed on a settlement which awarded Jane 52% of the ABC Company 401k of her spouse John. They signed a Mediated Settlement Agreement or MSA which was final and binding on April 2.  The next day the wife’s attorney calls a QDRO firm and asks them to draft a QDRO’s for this settlement.    

It then took until May 15 for the decree to be finalized.  The attorneys had to draft the decree, agree on the language in the drafting and then set a court date to finalize the divorce with the court.  This all required effort and time.  During that time a QDRO firm created a QDRO for the 401k, sent the QDRO’s into ABC Company’s custodian for preapproval and it came back approved.   The parties were officially divorced on May 15 via a “prove up” in court.  The divorce decree and the QDRO were all entered together and signed by the judge.

The wife paid extra for the QDRO company to pick up the QDRO in the clerk’s office and send it to ABC Company after a judge’s signature was secured. The county clerk is not responsible for this, the QDRO firm is not automatically responsible for this – the receiving party is responsible.  Sometimes the QDRO firm who drafted the QDRO will do this, but you must confirm with them. It is not automatic and usually involves an extra fee.   In this example the wife paid an extra $100 to the QDRO firm and they picked up the signed QDRO from the county clerk’s office and sent it to the company which manages ABC Company’s 401k.   

About 30-45 later, ABC Company sends a letter to the wife’s address of record notifying her the QDRO has been received and is being reviewed. Now the alternate payee or former wife can call ABC Company and discuss the QDRO with them.  However, ABC must still review the QDRO and confirm it is accurate.  If you had a QDRO firm prepare your QDRO and send it in for pre-approval, this should not be an issue.  In our example, let’s assume the letter was received by Jane on June 25. 

ABC Company must still review the QDRO which takes another 30-40 days.  On approximately August 2 in our example ABC sent a second letter to the alternate payee for the 401k QDRO letting her know the QDRO is approved, an alternate payee account now exists and they provide distribution options.   

In this example, the division of assets was decided on April 2, but the account was not available until August for the former wife.

Distribution  

Although this step frequently occurs at the same or immediately following the account segregation, it is important for the plan to follow the normal distribution process. In other words, the alternate payee must be provided with the necessary disclosures and then must submit the regular distribution request forms. Most plans include language that allows the alternate payee to take a distribution right away, but some plans limit that ability until the participant would otherwise be able to take a distribution. When distributions are permitted right away, it is our experience that the alternate payee is usually eager to do so.

 

Taxes

When an ex-spouse receives a cash distribution of plan benefits pursuant to a QDRO, he or she is responsible to pay the associated income tax.  You are taxed on these funds at your ordinary income rates as if you had a job which paid you the same amount. 

One key difference is that a cash-out distribution from a QDRO is not subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty.  For example, going back to Jane Smith, she is 45 years old. If she were to take funds out of a pre-tax retirement account to use as cash, she would pay tax on the proceeds in addition to a 10% penalty.  However, if the cash withdrawal is from the QDRO funds directly, the 10% penalty is not applied.  Let’s assume Jane needs $100,000 to establish an emergency fund, pay divorce debt and buy a new car.  She would take $100,000 of her QDRO in cash and pay taxes based on her marginal tax bracket that year.  The remainder of her QDRO funds could be rolled into an IRA in her name alone without any tax liability due today.  Divorces can be messy, and financial negotiations can make an already heated situation reach a boiling point. We find it is helpful to have someone who understands this process and can guide you.   If you have QDRO questions, please schedule a strategy session with us to discuss what your next step should be.  We can not only help you receive your QDRO funds but we can help you map out a plan for how much tax you should send to the IRS, how much you need in cash and an investment strategy for the funds you move into your own account through our partner investment firm.

Filed Under: Dividing Property, Divorce Finance, Divorce Support, Mediation Tagged With: divorce, finances, mediation, qdro

Why Choose Mediation Instead of Court?

January 10, 2023 By Denise French, CVA, MAFF, CDFA, CRPC

A mediator is a completely neutral third-party expert who assists the parties in coming to their own resolution to a dispute. An effective mediator will have experience both with the process of mediation itself as well as with the specific issues involved in your case.

Why would you choose to use mediation when you could instead use the traditional litigation process for your divorce?  There are numerous advantages of mediation over court, and not all of them are obvious at first glance:

(1) Mediation is quicker. Court dates are often postponed or could be inconvenient for the parties involved.  In mediation, you get to schedule the time the mediation session occurs, and the process can move much faster than a traditional litigated divorce.  At Divorce Strategies Group our mediation process is usually complete within 60-70 days. 

(2) In court the judge’s decision is binding. Contrasting, in mediation, you have a say in the outcome and nothing gets decided without your consent.  At the end of mediation if an agreement is reached, a Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) can be signed which is binding upon the parties.  Each party agrees to the conditions and signs voluntarily. 

(3) Mediation is typically much cheaper than court.  At DSG we charge a flat fee for mediation services and the attorneys we coordinate with typically charge lower rates than they would with traditional litigation.  While each party will have competent counsel at DSG in our mediation process, the overall time required by the attorneys in our mediation process is less and therefore the fees are typically less.  

(4) Court involves “discovery” procedures where each party forces the other to make information available in advance of the court hearing. Mediation can involve more reasonable and limited information sharing.  At DSG, unless otherwise requested, we only ask for what is in the estate currently.  In contrast, in litigation often years of statements are requested and then must be reviewed, which takes time and costs money. 

(5) You can research potential mediators and select one who has a specific skillset and style that appeals to you. Some mediators are facilitators while others will suggest solutions.

(6) Since the other side has agreed to mediate with you and helps create the settlement, they are more likely to comply with the agreed settlement terms after mediation. 

(7) Parents can draft agreements which work for their children instead of following the traditional, cookie-cutter plans of the court system.  In our mediation process at DSG, each party discusses their needs and wishes for the children with a family law attorney who then helps the parties craft agreements which both follow the law and fit the family’s needs.   

What are the next steps? Schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation with Divorce Strategies Group to discuss mediation and what options in general may be best for your family. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: co-parenting, divorce, divorce mediation, mediation, mediator, outsidecourt

Texas Divorce Mediation

December 20, 2022 By Denise French, CVA, MAFF, CDFA, CRPC

A Cost Effective and Expeditious Way to Divorce Amicably

Divorce can be hard on both the divorcing parties’ emotions and their wallets.   There is an alternative to traditional divorce litigation which may ease the emotional strain of a divorce and can be more cost effective in comparison to the traditional divorce process. That alternative is mediation. The Texas Bar Association defines mediation as a common dispute resolution method used to facilitate the reaching of an out of court settlement between two parties.

Over the years, mediation has been used increasingly in divorce and custody matters since it permits the parties to make final decisions instead of leaving decisions up to the Texas courts.  It also enables parties to handle their divorce in a private environment and create customized plans which fit their needs, not just boiler plate guidelines from the state.   

There are multiple benefits to mediation over traditional divorce. First, mediation can avoid a bitter contentious court room battle thereby promoting post-divorce harmony between the parties. Second, mediation may make a divorce easier on children of the marriage. Children often suffer emotionally as the result of a contentious divorce. Third, mediation may expedite a settlement agreement which is preferable to prolonged litigation. Fourth, mediation enables the parties to make the final decisions as to property and custody issues rather than leaving them up to a court. Finally, mediation is praised for its cost effectiveness given that the cost of mediation is considerably less than the cost of traditional divorce litigation.

The process

The actual mediator’s role is to be neutral and not represent either party to the divorce. Mediators are not allowed to give legal or financial advice to either party.  A mediator is not acting as a judge nor is the mediator able to dictate any terms to either party.   Instead, the mediator’s role is to encourage the parties to reach an agreement by talking through options, considering the strengths and weaknesses of both parties’ cases, the costs of litigation versus the merits of a settlement, etc.

Mediation is not required to produce an agreement. Indeed, in some instances, the parties simply cannot reach an agreement with each other. In that event, traditional divorce litigation is the only realistic option. If an agreement is reached during mediation, the parties will sign a binding written contract that will be enforceable in the Texas courts.

It is a good idea for the divorcing parties to each have their own attorneys who will be present during the actual mediation. This ensures that the parties’ respective interests will be protected during the process as they will have legal advice provided on every offer and option discussed.

Seeking advice

Some mediators are more active in the process than others depending on their personalities.   At Divorce Strategies Group we play a very active role in the mediation process.  We first meet with both parties to explain the process and confirm both parties are committed to mediation.  Next, we gather a list of financial items which enables us to create a martial inventory for the parties.  We then meet with each party individually walking through the estate matters and potential division options. This also creates an opportunity to discuss what life will look like after the divorce for each individual – how much will you potentially receive in assets? Where will you be financially?  Can you afford to keep the home? What is your tax situation?  While we are not giving tax or financial advice, we are providing information to help you make informed decisions.  We then bring in a family law attorney for each party to discuss children’s issues including a parenting plan and financial issues with your children.   The attorney will also review the estate and potentially offer alternatives or guidance.   Each party will have their own attorney who will act as an advocate for them. While the mediator is a neutral party, your attorney is your advocate in the process providing legal counsel and guidance for you.      

If you are considering a divorce and wonder if mediation is right for you, schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation today with Divorce Strategies Group.  We encourage you and your spouse to attend the consultation to learn about how this process may help you navigate the waters of divorce in a gentler, softer manner. 

Filed Under: Divorce Support, Mediation Tagged With: divorce, divorce advice, divorce mediation, divorce process, mediation

What is a Divorce Coach and How Can they Help You?

May 6, 2022 By Melissa Provence, CDC, DCC

[Are you waking up at 3:00 AM, feeling overwhelmed and panicked by the uncertainty of your future?

Questions and worries run through your mind? “Can I afford to get divorced?” “How do I tell my spouse our marriage it’s over?” “What about our kids?” “How do I tell them?” “How will I survive?” “Do I have to share my retirement savings?” “Do I need to lawyer up?” “What lawyer do I hire?”

The questioning can be endless and in a attempt to find answers, you start Googling. Taking the first steps in a divorce can be terrifying and overwhelming. In researching, something pops up about “Divorce Coaching.” Like almost everything else related to divorce, this is a new term for you.

What is a Divorce Coach?

A Divorce Coach is a trained mental health professional who shepherds you through your divorce. Divorce Coaches have unique expertise in divorce, co-parenting, parenting planning, child development, the impact of divorce on children, and all other issues related to divorce. Divorce Coaching is not therapy. Instead, coaches specialize in helping you emotionally cope with divorce before, during and after the process.

Is Divorce Coaching Right for Me?

For most people, the prospect of a divorce is an overwhelming life crisis. You need to make big decisions at a time when you are emotionally overloaded. The demands and decisions can be confusing. Divorce can require the time and energy of a full-time job (when a lot of women already have full time jobs and are full time moms).   In the process, it can also be exhausting to get through each day especially when you are meeting with your legal team or financial advisors to discuss divorce related issues.  You don’t know what steps you need to take, how you can figure it all out, or how long it will take. If this sounds familiar, then a Divorce Coach can help. 

How Can a Coach Help?

A Divorce Coach can help you understand one of the first and most important decisions you will have to make. You will need to decide which of the divorce process options available to you will work best for your family: a do-it-yourself divorce, mediation, collaborative law divorce, or litigation. The process you choose will dramatically affect your outcomes and the process.

A Divorce Coach will walk the path with you, through the legal process you have chosen, to provide support and guidance when needed. Divorce coaches also offer post-divorce support, addressing issues like co-parenting, setting up a spending plan, and claiming your new life.

One of the first and most painful things you will have to do is talk to your children about the upcoming changes in your family. A Divorce Coach will help you (and often your spouse) structure and plan for this, telling your children what they need to know. The Coach will help you respond to their questions and concerns in age-appropriate ways.

A Divorce Coach will help you build or strengthen your skills to cope with your emotions, especially at meetings with professionals and your spouse. In addition, your Coach can help you develop and hold you accountable for implementing much needed self-care practices.  This is critical as they can help you feel more grounded and help you cope during this time of life changes.

A Divorce Coach will help you begin to envision your life post-divorce, as a single parent and perhaps going back to work. The Coach will help you set goals and keep you accountable for them. This type of planning may influence your divorce negotiations. For example, if you need re-training to enter the workforce, this can be discussed as part of your divorce settlement.

Coaching will help you develop skills for the negotiations, which usually come after the information-gathering stage. With the help of your Coach, you will be clear about what is important to you in the final resolution. Identifying what matters most to you and where you can compromise is critical in divorce negotiations, and a Coach can help you do this with confidence.

Your Coach will help you understand and think through the many decisions you will be asked to make. A coach can help you feel brave, confident, and articulate in expressing what matters to you without being hijacked by emotions. This makes the process more efficient and cost-effective!

A Divorce Coach can help you build a new kind of parenting partnership relationship with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. A Coach can work with you to establish good communication, boundaries, and strategies for dealing with issues that inevitably arise.

A Divorce Coach provides a safe space to emotionally let go, vent, breathe and heal.

How Do I Find a Divorce Coach?

At Divorce Strategies Group we offer complimentary Discovery Sessions to discuss you and your situation. This introductory call with Divorce Coach Melissa Provence allows us to learn about you and pinpoint your immediate needs. Let’s talk!

Filed Under: Divorce Coaching, Divorce Support, Family & Children Tagged With: #communicationshills, #coparenting, #coparentingafterdivorce, #coping, #divorce recovery group, #divorce support group, #divorcecoach, #divorcecoaching, #divorcecopingtools, #divorcemediation, #divorceoptions, #divorcesupport, #divorcewithchildren, #highconflictdivorce, #postdivorce, #singlemother, #texasmediation, divorce, financialplanning, mediation

Ending a marriage? Don’t get divorced from financial reality in the process.

January 11, 2022 By Denise French, CVA, MAFF, CDFA, CRPC

Sound financial planning may be the last thing on your mind when divorcing but it may never be more valuable.  A lawyer may be your first call when you decide you want a divorce.  A financial advisor knowledgeable about divorce matters should be your second

In many cases, a divorce has more impact on a person’s current and future financial well-being than any other event in their lives. Sound financial planning may be the last thing on your mind when your marriage ends — particularly if it ends in conflict — but it may never be more valuable.

Divorce happens in an emotionally charged environment.  While in this state of mind, you are making financial decisions which will affect the rest of your life.  It is critical to have a knowledgeable financial advisor on your divorce team walking along side you and your attorney.  Financial planners will give you the overview of financial guidance while your attorney will explain the law and guide you with legal decisions.

In general, for everyone except the very wealthy, divorce will hurt your standard of living. Two households are more expensive to maintain than one, and if one person in the marriage has been a stay-at-home parent, there is less income and assets to go around.  In addition, unless your marriage was short-lived and is ending amicably, you have no children and little marital assets and income, you should consult both a lawyer and financial advisor.

Online divorces are dirt cheap but a good idea only for very simple circumstances with mutually acceptable terms. Mistakes made in a divorce settlement have long-lasting financial effects.

Five key issues to consider in divorce

1. Mediation versus litigation:

A divorce settlement mediated with a collaborative approach has major advantages over litigation for the divorcing family. It typically costs less and has higher compliance rates than with litigated settlements. It often requires much less time and emotional turmoil.

More importantly, it can save a parent’s ability to co-parent minor children after the divorce.  The biggest potential downside is that if the mediation doesn’t work, you’ll end up in court anyway prolonging the ordeal.

2. Budget for the long-term:

A clear understanding of your long-term living expenses is crucial to negotiating support payments and a settlement you can live with. That’s particularly so for parents who retain primary custody of children.

Larger expenses such as tutoring, special needs, extracurricular activities, vehicle purchases and insurance, senior trips and college are among the future expenses which need to be addressed in a settlement. Ideally, child-support payments should be protected by term life insurance.

When you come to the negotiating table, it is critical to think about your expenses not just two to three years after divorce but ten and fifteen years out. The more you can discuss about current and long-term needs — particularly if there are children involved — the better.

3. Watch your assets:

Marital assets are not all created equal. A savings account with $100,000 is worth much more than a joint retirement account that will eventually be taxed or illiquid equity in a home of that amount. Make sure you consider the liquidity and after-tax value of all assets and the different risks that they present.

Holding onto the family home could be a very heavy financial burden. While it may be a source of comfort in a difficult time, it could come back to haunt you.  Mothers with custody of children often understandably want to keep the house. Then they come to us, and we walk them through the costs to upkeep the home and a plan to do so, if possible.   We also find it valuable to have older homes inspected to uncover are any potential large costs ahead such as termite damage, foundation repair or major plumbing repair.

If there are more complicated marital assets such as private equity, restricted stock, business interests or even cryptocurrency holdings, an advisor is essential to evaluate and advise on those assets.

4. Mind your taxes:

Like everything else in life, divorce settlements have big tax implications. Understanding how different assets and income streams are taxed is crucial to the equitable division of assets.

It is also important to be aware of less obvious items such as pre-paid taxes which may have been paid already out of the marital pot but could be refunded to or used by a former spouse or tax-loss carry forward benefits if a large amount of non-qualified brokerage funds are owned.

5. Update your life:

The key things to address when your divorce settlement becomes final include updating your will, powers of attorney, beneficiaries, and other estate-planning documents to reflect your changed circumstances.

If you have been out of the workplace for an extended period, think about whether you need to return to it and if you need training to help you get back to work.  If you need training, it is wise to research how much it will cost and negotiate for that in your divorce.  It’s hard telling a stay-at home parent that they should go back to work but in some cases they really should. A person’s largest asset may be their earning capability.  It can help you add to your nest egg and enable a better retirement.

A knowledgeable, experienced divorce financial planner can show you where you will be with or without returning to the workforce and if you are working, help you readjust your retirement plan to get back on track.

Divorce Strategies Group, LLC is a full financial planning firm for those engaging in divorce with a forensic accounting arm.  We understand the laws as they relate to finance in divorce, and we understand financial planning.  In conjunction with our sister firm, French Financial Group, we can help you walk through divorce and emerge with a strong financial plan for your future.   Please call us at 281-505-8177 or reach us online to schedule your complimentary consultation today.

Filed Under: Divorce Finance Tagged With: assets, divorce, divorcefinance, estateplanning, financialplanner, financialplanning, mediation, tax2022, taxes

Health Plans – Open Enrollment & Divorce

October 18, 2020 By Denise French, CVA, MAFF, CDFA, CRPC

If you work for a company which offers health insurance you probably already know about open enrollment.    Updates you choose during this time period will determine your health, dental and vision insurance for the upcoming year and your tax savings in deductible plans like Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s).   While the timing of open enrollment can vary with different employers, open enrollment is generally the period between November and mid-December.  During this time you are able to make changes to your health insurance plans without a major life change.  You can choose to renew your participation in your company’s current insurance plans, switch to a different one, and make changes to participants on your plan for the upcoming year.  Even though it can be tempting to select the plan you had last year so you don’t have to put in much effort, I’d encourage you to pause for a moment and consider if that’s really the best option from a benefits, tax, and budgetary viewpoint.

It Is important to remember if you are still in the midst of divorce, you will likely need to add your current spouse on your health coverage during open enrollment elections for the new year.  If you are under temporary orders (which you likely are) do NOT remove your current spouse from your health coverage right now for the next year.    You can remove your spouse from your health insurance coverage in the new year after your divorce is final as that will count as a major life change.

While you will keep your spouse on your current coverage, it’s important to look at your coverage options and make sure you have the right one for you. After you divorce is final in the new year (or the end of this year), you will remove your spouse from your coverage and this will be your plan for the rest of the year.  Are the deductibles proper for you?  Are you eligible and participating in the HSA? Is this the right plan considering minor children you will have on your plan?  This and other issues are important to consider.

1. Evaluate Life Changes

The amount of coverage you need plays a big role here, especially if you previously covered dependents and/or your spouse and no longer need to or vice versa.  Some other life changes in addition to divorce could make a difference in the plan you choose during open enrollment include births, deaths and medical issues.

2. Review Beneficiaries

Open enrollment time is a good opportunity to revisit the beneficiaries on your accounts.  For example, if you have group life insurance, you may still have your ex-spouse as the beneficiary.  Once the divorce is final you will need to remove your ex-spouse from the beneficiary designation unless you want your ex-spouse to be the beneficiary, and in that case you will need to re-assign that person as the beneficiary after the divorce is final.  Your ex-spouse will be skipped over on a life insurance policy payout unless they are specifically designated in a divorce decree and/or you rename them as beneficiary on the policy after the divorce is final.

We encourage you NOT to list minor children as beneficiaries on an anything.  Minor’s cannot receive payouts without a court appearance and a guardian. Guess who will be the guardian for your children if you pass while they are minors?  It will be your co-parent or ex-spouse unless they predecease you.  If you want to leave the proceeds to your children you will want to create a testamentary trust (included in your will usually and what I have personally) or a revocable or an irrevocable trust.     All of these involve a trip to an estate planning attorneys office which we highly recommend after the divorce is final.

For now, while the divorce is still pending, list your spouse as beneficiary. You are likely under temporary orders to do so. After the divorce is final it’s time to do some estate planning and likely change the beneficiary.

3. Understand the Benefits of the Plans You Select versus Your Needs

This is a great time to make sure you’re getting the coverage you need and you’re maxing out the tax savings from it.   Take the time to review what’s included in your plans, any tax credits or benefits you’re eligible for, and options outside of your employer-provided plans.  That way, you know you’ll actually use everything you’re paying for.  The reality is, it comes down to saving money and being tax-efficient, especially with an HSA.

Another big issue we see with divorcing couples is the deductible and the corresponding out of pocket costs.  You may have a fight on your hands (and undue stress from such a fight for you and your children) if your spouse is living paycheck to paycheck and you opt for a plan with a huge deductible.  Paying hundreds of dollars to meet the deductible for a simple sick visit to the pediatrician may not go well for an ex-spouse on a limited income or at least be an issue to address while you are in divorce proceedings.  Conversely, if there is a large surgery to pay for or a medical issue to be dealt with which is known for the upcoming year, it’s wise to perform a cost analysis on how much it will cost you to have this covered at a higher percent even with a large deductible versus a lower percent of coverage with a lower deductible.

Medical costs can be an enormous part of the annual budget.  The good news is you have coverage and choices, the bad news is sometimes those choices, especially in the midst of a divorce, can be overwhelming.   To make sure you’re getting the biggest benefit, tax savings, and coverage you and your family actually need, talk to a trained consultant who can guide you through the process.

If you’d like me to help you with health care selections during open enrollment season or any other financial related issues, I’ve opened up more Divorce Strategy Sessions on my calendar in late October and early November for those who are not current clients and want some extra help with financial related issues.   In my Divorce Strategy Sessions, we will discuss your needs, your options and your budget so you can make the best choices for you and your future!!  Click here to learn more about Strategy Calls and schedule yours today!

 

Filed Under: Divorce Finance Tagged With: #divorce recovery group, #divorce support group, #divorcemediation, #divorcesupport, #divorcesupport group, #open enrollment, #openenrollment, alimony, co-parenting, divorce, divorce lawyer, mediation

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