Digital Security and Life Admin After Divorce in Australia

Your ex-spouse probably knows your email password. They may still have access to your cloud photos, location sharing, shared streaming accounts, and the recovery email on your primary accounts. After the legal separation is done, the digital separation is what actually protects your day-to-day privacy.

Digital Security: First 48 Hours

These are the accounts your ex-spouse is most likely to still have access to. Change them before you start updating government agencies:

Email accounts — change the password and enable two-factor authentication. Check the recovery email and phone number — if your ex's number is listed as a recovery option, they can reset your password at any time.

MyGov — this controls your Medicare, Centrelink, ATO, and other government services. Change your password and review linked services. If your ex knows your login, they can see your tax returns, medical claims, and benefit payments.

Banking apps — change passwords on all banking, super, and investment apps. If your ex was an authorised user on any account, remove their access. Check whether fingerprint or face unlock is still configured for their biometrics on any shared devices.

Cloud storage — Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox. If you shared a family plan or used the same Apple ID, your photos, documents, and location data may still be visible to your ex. Create separate accounts and migrate your files.

Location sharing — turn off Find My Friends, Google Maps sharing, and family location features. Check your phone's location sharing settings — on iPhone this is under Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Share My Location.

Shared Subscriptions and Accounts

Work through every shared subscription methodically. These tend to be forgotten because they auto-renew:

• Streaming services — Netflix, Stan, Disney+, Spotify, YouTube Premium. Either transfer the account to one person or cancel and create individual accounts. Shared profiles may give your ex access to your viewing history and recommendations
• Smart home devices — Alexa, Google Home, smart locks, security cameras. If your ex still has the app on their phone, they may be able to control devices in your home, view security camera footage, or unlock smart locks
• Toll accounts — E-Toll and Linkt accounts do not update automatically when you change your driver licence. Update separately, or toll fines will go to the wrong person
• Grocery and delivery accounts — Woolworths, Coles, Uber Eats, DoorDash. Update saved addresses and remove shared payment methods
• Gaming accounts — PlayStation, Xbox, Steam family sharing. These often have stored credit card details

Mail and Address Updates

Australia Post mail redirect — set up a temporary mail redirection from your former address to your new one. This catches mail from organisations you haven't notified yet. Redirections can be set for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months.

Electoral roll — update your name and address with the Australian Electoral Commission. This is a legal requirement — you must update within 8 weeks of a change of address.

Car Registration and Insurance

Car registration in NSW — if the car was jointly registered, update the registration to a single name through Service NSW. You'll need to visit in person with proof of identity and, if the car was transferred as part of the settlement, a copy of the Consent Orders.

Car insurance — update your policy to remove your ex-spouse as a named or nominated driver. If the car was transferred, you'll need a new policy in your name. Check whether your premium changes with only one driver listed.

Home and contents insurance — update the policy to reflect sole occupancy. Adjust the sum insured if your contents have changed significantly (you're now insuring one household worth of belongings, not two).

Utility Accounts

Contact each provider to transfer the account into a single name. Request a final meter read on the date of the change so there's a clean billing boundary:

• Electricity
• Gas
• Water (council rates may also need updating)
• Internet and phone
• Pay TV

If your ex-spouse's name is on the account and they've moved out, you generally need their consent or a copy of the Consent Orders to take over the account. Some providers will create a new account for you at the same address.

Workplace and School Notifications

• Employer — update your emergency contact, next of kin, and tax file declaration
• Children's school — provide copies of parenting orders, update emergency contact lists, and adjust pickup authorisation
• Childcare — same as school, plus update the Child Care Subsidy assessment through Centrelink (your individual income now determines the subsidy rate)

The NSW After-Divorce Checklist includes a digital security worksheet and a complete life admin tracker covering every account, subscription, and agency update — with checkboxes so you can work through them systematically instead of hoping you haven't missed one.

See more New South Wales guides →