Once a divorce is complete, is there anything else that needs to be done with regards to retirement accounts?

It is very important to follow through with the division of the retirement accounts. The QDRO, which hopefully was entered the same day of the divorce with the judgment, needs to be submitted to the plan administrator for approval. Additionally recent cases have made it very clear that when it comes to federal retirement plans such as pensions and even things like life insurance benefits, a change of beneficiary notice is mandatory. Clients should really make sure that it is a priority to immediately remove a former spouse as a beneficiary from an account. This can be done by making sure that that beneficiary designation form is up-to-date.

Arin Fife is a family lawyer at Boyle Feinberg, P.C. in Illinois. To learn more about the firm, visit www.bffamlaw.com. Visit their firm profile here.