Divorce: the insurance details that get missed in the paperwork

Divorce changes your obligations and your coverage — and a few details get missed in the paperwork.

• Update beneficiaries everywhere — life insurance, segregated funds, group benefits. An ex named as beneficiary will still be paid unless you change it (or unless they're irrevocable).
• Watch irrevocable designations: support agreements often require maintaining life insurance with the ex or children as irrevocable beneficiaries — you can't change those without consent, by design.
• Re-run your needs: your income, dependants, and obligations changed; your coverage amount probably should too (Life Insurance Needs).
• Split and re-establish coverage that was tied to a former spouse's group plan — you may lose it and need personal replacement.
• Quebec: designations and family-patrimony rules follow the civil code — get local advice.