Going through a divorce is a highly stressful event, and usually laden with emotion. We feel for you. Whether you and your ex-spouse are on speaking terms or not, it helps to have a clear fact sheet that guides you through the rough of settlements and paperwork and provides guidance by giving you a list of things to do. We are here to help when it comes to adjusting your insurance.
Take it step by step, and be gentle with yourself. But be sure to revise your protection plan to your changed needs and to ensure that you have important coverage when you need it.
Unfortunately, this is not always easy. Call your team at Pembina Insurance Services to help make your transition from joint insurance coverage to individual protection plans as smooth as possible. As you think about this transition, here are some important things for you to consider:
Separation
You had a fight, another one. The constant arguments are wearing both of you down. And this last one did it. You agreed that you should separate. Get a divorce.
He moved out, took some of his stuff, but hasn’t filed for divorce yet. You haven’t filed for divorce yet. But you know this has got to end.
Yet, you’re not quite sure how to tackle it all…it seems an awful lot to take care of. For one, separating the bills seems like a good idea…
Unfortunately, a separation (when you and your partner end the relationship, possibly live apart, but have not yet filed for a divorce) makes matters more complicated: As long as both of you are listed as “named insureds” on a policy, we cannot delete one of you from the insurance plan, and we cannot change your insurance without consent from your ex-partner.
In other words, we cannot make changes to your joint insurance plan when only one of you requests the change.
That said, there are certain steps you can and should take when it comes to your insurance plan:
1. Once you or your partner move out, they should amend their vehicle registration (and driver’s licence) to show the new primary address of the vehicle owner. This is usually the first step before making sure that the vehicles are insured correctly.
2. Whoever moves out should get Tenant or Homeowner’s Insurance for their new residence. The existing homeowner’s policy will only extend limited coverage to a new residence.
Give us a call 204-452-4913. We can help you find the coverage that keeps you adequately protected in this phase of transition. We are here to help!
Auto Insurance
Your divorce is almost final when you receive your Auto Insurance renewal letter in the mail.
Right. That needs to be taken care of, too. Does it ever end?
Once your ex-spouse moves out, they should update the registration of their vehicle with the new address and ensure that no changes have been made with the use. This is the first step and it should be done within 15 days of moving within Manitoba
If the vehicles are co-owned it may involve each party selling half of the vehicle to the other. Give us a call and we can provide advice on the specific details of your situation.
Your team at Pembina Insurance Services can help make any changes to your auto insurance.
Homeowner’s or Tenant Insurance
So. This is it. The divorce is final, and you are the one who stays in the home you once shared.
The house is going to feel awfully big and awfully empty. But at least you don’t have to move. Not right away, at least. Maybe you can re-decorate…
Before you head out to the furniture store, please think of one small thing: Give us a call so we can adjust your homeowner’s or tenant insurance to your name only, and make it work for your new needs. (That may even save you money.)
If you are the spouse who is moving out, please give us a call to set up tenant or homeowner’s insurance for your new place.
The last thing you need right now is unnecessary hassle. Allow yourself the peace of mind that you deserve, and get your protection plan in place. We’re here to help. And we make it easy for you: We can answer all your questions and find you the tenant or home insurance that best fits your new situation and your new budget.
Call the experts at Pembina Insurance Services with your questions on homeowners or tenant insurance.
Life Insurance
There is a whole new set of questions that comes with a divorce. Are you paying alimony? Are you receiving alimony? Do you purchase life insurance? Do you change your life insurance beneficiary?
All these – and more! – are part of a divorce settlement. Dealing with the finances in a divorce is not easy, and emotions often make things even foggier.
If you have life insurance in place, you might want to consider keeping it in place, with your ex-spouse as the beneficiary, even after the divorce. If you are paying alimony, your ex-spouse might rely on your payments for cost of living and child support. If you delete him or her as beneficiary, you might leave them, and your children, in serious financial turmoil in case of your death. If you have no financial obligations to your former spouse, you may want to continue your life insurance but name a new beneficiary.
You have the option to declare your children to be the beneficiaries of your life insurance, but be aware that minors under the age of 18 cannot directly receive life insurance benefits. In case of your death, the money would either be managed by a court-ordered trustee, or the insurance company would hold the benefit until the child turns 18. Our best advice to avoid these options would be to contact a family attorney who can establish a trust which can be named as the beneficiary. You can then indicate in the trust which friend or family member will be entrusted to handle the financial issues for your children, and who will serve as guardians. (These can be the same or different people.)
If you are the spouse who receives alimony, you might consider adding a clause to the divorce settlement that the life insurance beneficiary cannot be changed or allowed to lapse without your consent.
Another factor to consider: Keeping your current life insurance in place allows you to lock in your rates and insurability, regardless of possible future health issues. (This is also the reason why you should consider getting life insurance if you don’t already have it.)
Call you life insurance agent to answer further questions you may have.
Health Insurance
You have all been part of your ex-spouse’s family health insurance plan. Now you’re getting divorced. Are the kids still covered? Are YOU still covered?
When you are going through a divorce, you may need to find a new health insurance plan for yourself if you have been previously covered on your spouse’s group health insurance policy.
If you have children, compare your and your spouses’ plan, and enroll your children on the better plan. Keep in mind, however, that coverage may change or even be reduced to emergency care if the policyholder (you or your spouse) and your children live in different states due to rules about preferred provider networks.
A divorce is not easy. Call your Health Insurance provider to help you in making changes to your plan.