Life after divorce- a helpful checklist

Reverting to your maiden name following a divorce may feel like a positive step forward on the road to starting a new life, but it does unfortunately bring with it a bundle of ‘life’ admin.

Not everyone decides to change their name back following a divorce, particularly if you use the married name for professional purposes, or you wish to have the same name as your children but the choice is yours.

Should you wish to revert back to your maiden name then here is a helpful list of the companies that need to be notified

Tell your employer who will notify the HMRC for you as part of the payroll process. The HMRC will automatically notify the DWP to update your national insurance records.
If you are retired or unemployed, then you will need to notify the DWP if you are claiming a state pension or any other state benefits.
Tell the DVLA and update your driving license and the vehicle registration certificate if you own a car
Change your passport
Change any bank accounts, including savings accounts, investments and credit card companies. Consider any direct debits, and any other outstanding loans in joint names
Tell your insurance providers, which may include home & contents, buildings, life, car, travel, medical. You may wish to update the contents insurance if any significant items have been removed from the property following the separation.
Change your social media profiles (although you may have done this already)
Change any breakdown cover you may have
Tell your mobile phone supplier
Tell your GP, dentist and any other healthcare providers that you go to
Inform your local council so that your council tax can be updated. You may be eligible for a sole occupancy council tax reduction. They will also update your electoral register
Change your mortgage if remaining in the marital home. If your ex is coming off the mortgage, then the land registry needs to be notified but your conveyancer will do this for you as part of the remortgaging process.
Let any utility providers know to remove the ex from correspondence (gas, electric, water, internet, Tv license)
Letting the pension service and your pension provider know if your spouse is named as a beneficiary
Change your Will. Divorce doesn’t revoke a Wil, but once the divorce is finalised your ex is effectively treated as having passed away and will not benefit, nor can they act as an executor. It would still be worth updating your Will to reflect the divorce, giving you chance to identify other executors if required. Please also note that if you remarry a will is invalidated by marriage so it is important to remember this and update your will after marriage.
Tell your student loan company should this apply
Tell any higher education providers such as university if applicable
Inform any clubs, societies and associations that you are connected with
Tell the police if there are any criminal proceedings against you
Tell the UK Vias & Immigration if applicable
If you are moving out of the marital home then you may wish to consider contacting the post office to have any personal mail redirected.
If there are children in the family, then you should notify their school if any communication changes are required. If you are going to have a difference surname to the children then this also help the school to understand the situation. It may also help them to assist the child through this time of change if they are aware.

Fortunately, these days, most of these changes may be able to be done online for your convenience, but it is worth noting that some of the companies/government agencies will require copies of various certificates including the divorce Final Order (previously the Decree Absolute) to be able to process the change and we can help you with that.