Retirement Post Divorce

Divorce can be one of the hardest things to deal with in your life, and you may be wondering what retirement post divorce will be like. The emotional and familial turmoil that typically surrounds this process is often exacerbated by financial issues. As well as the battle over division of assets. Retirement plans and pensions are often a key asset that is targeted by both spouses. Especially when a nonworking spouse may be left without savings of any kind. If he or she is unable to get anything from the former partner. Here’s what you can do to protect your retirement savings or rights to benefits if you face this unfortunate dilemma.

Know the Rules

The first step in protecting your retirement assets is to know the rules that govern your plans, accounts and pension payments. Most plans and accounts have specific procedures that must be obeyed when it comes to dividing retirement assets. Failure to follow these instructions may lead to forfeiture of some or all of those assets — even if they were accorded to you in the divorce decree.

Pension Plans

Either the divorce decree itself is used to move account balances from one spouse to the other in the form of a rollover. Dividing guaranteed pension payouts can be another matter in many cases. Although both types of retirement funds must usually be divided up at the time of divorce by some form of court order. There are several key factors that enter into how monthly benefits are allocated between spouses. Any pension that was earned while the divorcing spouses were married is typically considered to be joint property. This is considered in most states and therefore subject to some form of division in a divorce.

What you can do

• Do your homework
• Get professional representation
• Send all court orders and divorce agreement documents to plan and account custodians immediately
• Review Social Security benefits
• Create a prenuptial agreement

Divorce Financial Advice are here to help you make the best decision that is right for you. That is why if you are in need of financial advice do not hesitate to contact us here.