Post-Divorce — First 30 Days

Beneficiary Update Checklist

Utah Code § 75-2-804 automatically revokes an ex-spouse's beneficiary designation on some assets when a divorce is final — but not all of them, and a beneficiary form still overrides your will. The gap between those two facts is where people lose money.

Urgent: In most states including Utah, beneficiary designations supersede your will. If your ex-spouse is still listed as beneficiary, they may receive the assets even if your decree says otherwise.
Utah law note: Utah Code § 75-2-804 does automatically revoke beneficiary designations in favor of an ex-spouse for certain assets upon divorce — but this has exceptions and does not cover all account types, including many employer retirement plans governed by federal law (ERISA). Always update manually to be certain.

Financial Accounts

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401(k) and 403(b) plans
Contact HR or your plan administrator. Federal law (ERISA) governs these — Utah's auto-revocation statute does NOT apply. Must update the plan's own beneficiary form.
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IRA accounts (Traditional and Roth)
Log in to your custodian (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc.) and update online, or complete a paper beneficiary form. Also update contingent beneficiaries.
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Pension plans
Contact the plan administrator or HR. If a QDRO was issued as part of your divorce, review how survivor benefits were addressed.
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Brokerage / investment accounts (TOD)
Transfer-on-death (TOD) designations bypass probate. Update through your brokerage's beneficiary portal or with a paper form.
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Bank accounts (POD)
Payable-on-death designations must be updated directly with your bank. Visit a branch or call customer service — most allow updates online now.

Insurance

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Life insurance policies (all of them)
Contact each insurance company directly. Check every policy — term, whole life, universal. Request a beneficiary change form or do it through the insurer's online portal.
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Annuities
Contact the insurance company or financial institution that issued the annuity. Update both primary and contingent beneficiaries.
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Employer-provided group life insurance
Contact HR and complete a new beneficiary form through your benefits portal. This is a separate form from your 401(k) beneficiary designation.

Legal Documents

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Will
Divorce does NOT automatically update your will in Utah (it revokes some provisions but not all). Have an attorney draft a new will as soon as possible after your divorce is final.
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Revocable living trust
If you have a living trust, have an attorney amend or restate it to remove your ex-spouse as successor trustee or beneficiary.
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Power of Attorney — revoke old, create new
Revoke any existing power of attorney that named your ex-spouse in writing. Then execute a new durable POA naming someone you trust. File the revocation if needed.
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Healthcare directive / advance directive
Update who can make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated. Execute a new Utah Advance Health Care Directive naming a new agent.

Employer-Specific Accounts

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HSA / FSA accounts
Health Savings Accounts have beneficiary designations — update through your HSA custodian. FSA funds typically don't transfer at death but confirm with your plan.
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Stock options and RSUs
Contact your employer's equity or stock plan administrator (often a third-party platform like Fidelity NetBenefits or Carta). Confirm how unvested shares were addressed in your decree.
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