After Divorce Checklist California: What to Do in the First 90 Days

The judge signed your Judgment of Dissolution (Form FL-180). Your marriage is over. But the administrative work of actually separating two lives is just beginning — and California's community property system means the stakes of getting the sequence wrong are real. An out-of-order DMV visit wastes a morning. A missed QDRO filing deadline can cost you tens of thousands in retirement benefits.

Here's the chronological checklist, organized by the timeline that actually works.

Days 1–14: Secure Your Decree and Assess the Situation

Get certified copies of your judgment. You'll need multiple copies — banks, the DMV, the Social Security Administration, retirement plan administrators, and title companies all require originals. Order at least five certified copies from the clerk of the Superior Court in the county where your case was filed. Fees vary by county ($15–$40 per copy), and mail requests can take up to 45 days, so order immediately.

Pull all three credit reports. Request reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Identify every joint account — credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, lines of credit. This is your baseline. Any new joint debt your ex incurs after separation is their responsibility, but creditors don't care about your divorce decree. They'll come after both signers.

Check if your name restoration is in the decree. Look at item 4(f) of Form FL-180. If your former name was restored there, the certified judgment is all you need. If it was omitted, you'll need to file Form FL-395 (Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name) at the original courthouse — this is far cheaper than a full civil name change petition (Form NC-100), which costs $435+ and requires newspaper publication.

Inventory everything that needs updating. Make a master list: bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, retirement accounts, property titles, vehicle titles, estate documents, employer records, voter registration, and digital accounts.

Days 15–30: Identity and Banking

Update Social Security first. Submit Form SS-5 to the SSA with your certified decree and a current photo ID. There's no fee. This must happen before any other identity document update — the California DMV performs real-time database matching with the SSA, and your DMV application will be rejected if Social Security hasn't updated yet.

Update your California driver's license. Once SSA is updated, visit the DMV to complete Form DL 44. Bring your certified decree and proof of residency. The fee is approximately $30–$45.

Open individual bank accounts. If you haven't already, open checking and savings accounts at a separate financial institution from your joint accounts. Set up direct deposit to route your paychecks to your new individual account.

Freeze or close joint bank accounts. Withdraw your share per the judgment terms, then formally close the joint accounts. Banks often refuse to close joint accounts without both parties' signatures — if your ex won't cooperate, request a freeze on new transactions and document the refusal for potential court enforcement.

Close joint credit cards. Don't just remove yourself as an authorized user — close the account entirely and transfer any balance to the responsible party's individual card. Get written confirmation from the issuer.

Days 31–60: Retirement, Estate, and Insurance

Submit draft QDROs to plan administrators. If your divorce involves dividing an employer-sponsored retirement plan (401k, 403b, pension), you need a Qualified Domestic Relations Order. For California public pensions like CalPERS or CalSTRS, file the joinder paperwork (Forms FL-370, FL-372, FL-375) with the Superior Court first. Then submit the draft QDRO to the plan administrator for pre-approval before taking it to the judge. This process routinely takes 3–16 months, so start immediately.

Execute IRA transfers. IRAs don't require a QDRO — they're divided as a "transfer incident to divorce" under IRC Section 1041. Coordinate a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. Never withdraw the funds directly — a physical payout triggers income tax and potential early withdrawal penalties.

Overhaul your estate plan. Revoke your existing will, revocable trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive. California's automatic revocation rules (Probate Code Section 5600) cover some provisions naming your ex, but they don't reach every account type — particularly federal employee benefits, military survivor benefits, and some life insurance policies. Draft an entirely new estate plan.

Update all beneficiary designations. Go through every account that has a named beneficiary: life insurance, 401(k), IRA, pension, payable-on-death bank accounts, and transfer-on-death brokerage accounts. Beneficiary designations typically override both wills and divorce decrees — if your ex is still listed as beneficiary on your 401(k) and you die, they get the money regardless of what your will says.

Handle health insurance. If you were on your ex's employer plan, you'll lose coverage. You have 60 days to elect COBRA continuation coverage (18 months maximum) or 30 days to enroll in your own employer's plan through the qualifying life event window. California's Covered California marketplace is another option if you don't have employer coverage.

Days 61–90: Property, Vehicles, and Final Updates

Record property transfer deeds. If one spouse is keeping the family home, the transferring spouse must execute an Interspousal Transfer Grant Deed, citing Revenue and Taxation Code Section 63 to avoid property tax reassessment. File the deed with the County Recorder along with a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR). Recording fees run $15–$50.

Refinance the mortgage. A quitclaim deed removes your ex's name from the title, but it doesn't remove them from the mortgage. The retaining spouse must refinance into their sole name. Your marital settlement agreement should specify a deadline — typically 90–180 days.

Transfer vehicle titles. The registered owner signs the title release. The receiving spouse completes DMV Form REG 256 (Statement of Facts) to claim the divorce transfer exemption from use tax and smog certification. The transferring spouse must file Form REG 138 (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability) within five days to avoid liability for future parking violations or tolls.

Update employer records. Submit a new W-4 and California DE 4 for withholding, update your beneficiaries on employer life insurance and retirement plans, change your emergency contacts, and update your name if applicable.

Register to vote with your updated information. You can re-register online through the California Secretary of State's website at no cost.

Beyond 90 Days: Enforcement

If your ex isn't complying with the judgment terms — refusing to sign deeds, missing refinance deadlines, ignoring QDRO requirements — you have enforcement options. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 128(a)(4) allows the court to appoint an elisor (typically the court clerk) to sign documents on behalf of a non-compliant party. Contempt proceedings are also available for willful violations of court orders.

The California Post-Divorce Toolkit includes a 90-Day Action Plan worksheet that breaks this entire sequence into weekly tasks with deadlines, plus standalone trackers for name changes, joint accounts, property transfers, and retirement division — so nothing gets missed during the most critical transition period.

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