Financial future after divorce

Key takeaways

• Review your accounts soon after your divorce to catch missed changes.
• Update your will and beneficiaries so everything reflects appropriately.
• Recheck life insurance coverage if your responsibilities have changed.
• Put your child’s long-term future first in every decision.

More than 1.8 million Americans divorced in 2023, and roughly one-third of ever-married Americans have been through divorce. 1 Such circumstances are stressful and become more complicated when children are involved: Parents may experience difficult financial and legal issues through the process, even as they contemplate how to minimize the impact on their children.  
 

Katelyn* found herself in that situation upon learning that her husband wanted a divorce. Her first thoughts were to ensure the future security of her then four-year-old daughter in every possible way. Katelyn's ex-husband planned to move to another country after the divorce, which meant for all practical purposes, she would be both mom and dad, full-time.
 

“I knew the financial and support responsibilities of being a single parent would be enormous,” said Katelyn, a CPA and MBA expert in technical accounting and regulatory policy. 
 

In most respects Katelyn's skilled financial background and the aid of experts like financial professionals helped her safeguard her child and the assets that mattered to their futures. Though she annually funds her 401K to the full extent, she expects to work past retirement age – approaching in about five years – to maintain her lifestyle and support her daughter’s college endeavors. If you, too, unexpectedly become a single parent, there are a few steps you can take to help prepare yourself and your family for the transition:

Reviewing college fund plans

Katelyn and her ex-husband regularly contributed to a 529 plan once their child was born, including a final payment each made as part of concluding the divorce. “Not much has gone into it since,” she says; future payments weren’t included in the divorce agreement. Even if they were, current circumstances likely would prevent additional contributions on her ex-husband's part as he is now unemployed and even monthly child support payments are sporadic. 

At this point, she knows she’ll probably pay more towards her daughter’s education than her ex. “The cost of college is very high, and depending on your salary as a professional, your child’s financial aid opportunities may be less,” she says.

Sheri Conklin, principal of Conklin Financial Planning, says that depending on a couple's income and the expenses of going from one to two households, a divorce may mark the end of college fund contributions – at least for a short while. It might wind up being delayed longer for all but the highest income earners. Even if contributions are stipulated in a divorce agreement, “when funds get tight, usually that’s something people can’t afford to do,” she says. She recommends preparing children for other ways to support their education (opens in a new tab), such as scholarships and jobs. Alternately, “if you can fund a Roth IRA and meet your retirement projections, you can always pull some money from there to help with college” without incurring penalties.

Managing disability insurance

 Katelyn is fortunate that her current employer in Manhattan provides very good disability insurance. But others who have existing policies and have recently become single parents may want to explore a Future Purchase Option rider, recommends Jason P. Veirs, owner and president of Insurance Experts. This “allows an insured to increase their coverage while not having to medically re-qualify again,” he says. “An FPO is important as a person’s income tends to increase throughout their career, and they can continue to increase their coverage as their liabilities increase.” 

Disability insurance can have pitfalls for the self-employed and individuals who work for small companies. They won’t get the benefit of the group rates that large companies can negotiate. "If you can’t afford to get a policy that covers up to 60% of your salary [the industry standard], maybe look at covering a portion of it.”

Altering guardianship arrangements 

One of Katelyn’s most important divorce agreement requirements was that her daughter remain in the states while a minor. Since it’s not likely that her ex-husband wants to return here, Katelyn named her sister, a lawyer in New York, to assume the role of guardian should circumstances warrant.

Updating legal documents to cover this issue is particularly critical if a parent has reason to want to avoid or mitigate the other parent’s say in who becomes the legal guardian upon his or her death. “He or she should create a comprehensive estate plan, including a will, guardian nominations, and even exclusions (a list of folks who should not be named guardian),” says Anthony S. Park of Anthony S. Park, PLLC, a New York law firm of probate attorneys and professional executors.  

Aligning life insurance

To protect their child, Katelyn’s divorce agreement specified that each party take out 20-year, $200,000 term insurance policies. Katelyn has further secured her daughter’s future by taking advantage of additional life insurance through her employer.

While divorced partners can serve as each other’s trustee or guardian for a life insurance policy in which the child is the beneficiary, that’s not always the best approach. Katelyn is custodian for her daughter as the beneficiary of her ex’s policy; but Katelyn’s sister serves that function for her policy, where her daughter is also the beneficiary. Conklin says it’s in the best interest of the child. “Name someone you know will make sure that the money gets to the kids or goes to help the kids,” she says. “You want someone who will put their interests first.”

Maintaining good health

Your health and fitness can fall by the wayside when you lose a partner to lean on. Katelyn initially tried to take art, dance and workout classes. Working in NYC, with age advancing, has been draining my energy,” she says.

It can be difficult to find the time, money and energy to stay in good health as a single parent, but it’s important to make self care part of your parenting strategy. One way to minimize time and cost is to exercise with your child so that it becomes healthy quality time as a family.

For Katelyn, and many single parents, it’s all about persistence. “I know I need to get a healthier lifestyle, and I plan to get back into things.” She wants to provide as much support for her daughter for as long as she can.

“I have every intention of being there for her.”   

* Katelyn’s name has been changed to protect her identity.

Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

MLINY072726717-6