Divorce is one of life's most challenging events, both emotionally and logistically. Amidst the upheaval, it’s easy to overlook the administrative tasks, but some are too crucial to ignore. Your financial arrangements, particularly your life insurance, fall squarely into this category.
What was once a straightforward plan to protect your spouse and family now requires a complete reassessment. An outdated policy could lead to devastating financial consequences, with a potential payout going to an ex-partner instead of your children or new dependants.
This guide is designed to walk you through every step of reviewing and updating your protection insurance after a divorce. We’ll cover joint and single policies, critical illness cover, income protection, and specialist options for business owners, ensuring you have the clarity and confidence to secure your financial future.
WeCovr explains how to update your policy post-divorce
Navigating the financial aftermath of a divorce can feel overwhelming. At WeCovr, we believe in making at least one part of it simpler: ensuring your life insurance is fit for your new future. Updating your policy isn't just a piece of administrative tidying; it's a fundamental step in protecting the people who rely on you now.
The process involves a few key stages:
- Locating and Reviewing: The first step is to dig out your existing policy documents. You need to understand exactly what type of cover you have – is it a joint policy with your ex-spouse or a single policy of your own?
- Understanding Your Options: Depending on the policy type, you'll have different choices. A joint policy, for instance, could potentially be cancelled, taken over by one person, or even split into two new single policies.
- Changing Beneficiaries: This is paramount. You must decide who you want to receive the payout from your policy and take formal steps to update this, often by writing the policy into a trust.
- Assessing Your New Needs: Your financial landscape has changed. You need to calculate the amount of cover required to protect your new life, whether that includes a new mortgage, child maintenance obligations, or simply providing for your children as a single parent.
Let's explore why this review is not just important, but absolutely essential.
Why is Reviewing Your Life Insurance After Divorce So Crucial?
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 80,057 divorces granted in England and Wales in 2022. Each one of these represents a fundamental shift in a family's structure and finances. An unreviewed life insurance policy can create a legacy of problems.
Here’s why a post-divorce review is a non-negotiable task:
- Outdated Beneficiaries: The most significant risk is that your ex-spouse is still the named beneficiary on your policy. In the event of your death, the insurer is legally obliged to pay the claim to the person named, regardless of your changed relationship. This could inadvertently disinherit your children or a new partner.
- Securing Maintenance Payments: If you are paying or receiving child or spousal maintenance, life insurance can act as a vital safety net. A policy can be set up to guarantee these payments continue if the paying ex-partner were to pass away, ensuring the children’s financial stability isn't compromised. This is often a condition stipulated in the final divorce financial order.
- Changes in Financial Dependency: Your circle of dependants has likely changed. You may now be the sole financial provider for your children. You might have a new partner or even be supporting ageing parents. Your cover needs to reflect who depends on your income now.
- New Debts and Mortgages: A common outcome of divorce is one partner buying the other out of the family home or purchasing a new property. This means taking on a new mortgage. Your life insurance must be sufficient to cover this new, larger debt to prevent your loved ones from facing the risk of losing their home.
- Peace of Mind: Finalising a divorce is about creating a new beginning. Ensuring your financial affairs are in order is a powerful step towards building that new life with confidence. Knowing your loved ones are protected provides immense peace of mind.
Understanding Your Existing Life Insurance Policy
Before you can make any changes, you need to understand what you currently have. Life insurance policies taken out by couples typically fall into two categories: joint life or single life.
Joint Life Policies
This is a single policy that covers two people, usually paying out on the first death. It was likely the most cost-effective option when you took it out as a couple to cover a joint mortgage. However, it becomes complicated after a divorce.
- How it works: A joint life, first-death policy pays out the full sum assured when the first person dies. The policy then immediately ends, leaving the surviving person with no further life cover.
- The Post-Divorce Problem: If you keep a joint policy with your ex-spouse and you pass away first, the entire lump sum will be paid to them. This may be the last thing you want. Your children, from that or any subsequent relationship, would receive nothing from the policy. The surviving ex-spouse would have the cash and no obligation to use it for your children's welfare unless legally mandated.
Single Life Policies
This is a policy that covers only one person. If you and your ex-partner took out two separate single policies instead of one joint one, the process of updating them is far simpler.
- How it works: The policy pays out upon the death of the single individual covered.
- The Post-Divorce Advantage: You have complete control over your own policy. You don't need your ex-partner's permission to make changes. The main action required is simply to review and update who the beneficiary of the policy is.
Comparison: Joint vs. Single Policies Post-Divorce
| Feature | Joint Life Policy (First Death) | Two Single Life Policies |
|---|
| Who is covered? | Both you and your ex-spouse under one policy. | You each have your own separate policy. |
| Payout | Pays out once, on the first death, then terminates. | Each policy pays out independently upon the death of the holder. |
| Post-Divorce Control | Complicated. Changes often require both ex-partners to agree. | Simple. You have full control over your own policy. |
| Beneficiary | Payout goes to the surviving policyholder (your ex). | You choose who benefits from your policy. |
| Key Action Needed | Decide whether to cancel, split, or maintain the policy. | Review and update your beneficiary and cover amount. |
Dealing with a Joint Life Insurance Policy After Divorce
If you have a joint life policy, you have a decision to make. You cannot simply remove your ex-spouse from the policy. Here are the four main routes you can take.
Option 1: Cancel the Policy
This is the simplest option but often the worst. You both agree to cancel the policy, and it ceases to exist.
- Pros: It provides a clean break. There are no more premiums to pay and no further links to your ex-partner through the policy.
- Cons: You both lose your life cover completely. When you apply for a new policy, you will be older, and may have developed health conditions. This means your new premiums will be significantly higher. You are also subject to new medical underwriting, and there is a risk you may not be offered cover at all.
Option 2: One Partner Takes Over the Policy
In some cases, one person can take legal ownership of the policy (an "assignment"), remove the other person, and continue paying the premiums.
- Pros: The cover remains in place at the original premium rate. This can be a good option if one person's health has declined, making new cover expensive or unobtainable.
- Cons: This requires the full agreement of both parties and the insurer. The person who gives up the policy will be left with no cover. The beneficiary will still be the ex-spouse unless this is formally changed, which can be complex.
Option 3: Split the Policy (Policy Separation)
This is by far the best-case scenario for a joint policy. Some modern, flexible policies include a 'separation option' or 'joint life policy separation' clause.
- How it works: This feature allows a joint policy to be split into two new single policies following a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership. Crucially, this can usually be done without any further medical questions for either person.
- Pros: You both get to keep your life insurance, converting it into individual policies. You avoid the higher costs and medical underwriting of a brand-new application.
- Cons: Not all policies have this feature. It is essential to read your policy's terms and conditions or speak to your adviser. At WeCovr, we often highlight policies that include a separation option, as it provides valuable flexibility for life's unexpected turns.
Option 4: Keep the Policy As-Is for a Specific Purpose
There are situations where it makes sense to keep the joint policy active, most commonly to protect child maintenance payments.
- How it works: The ex-partner who pays maintenance continues to pay the premiums. If they were to die, the lump sum would be paid to the other ex-partner, providing the funds to continue supporting the children.
- Pros: It provides a cast-iron guarantee that funds for the children's upbringing will be available. This arrangement is often mandated as part of a court's financial order.
- Cons: It requires a high level of trust and cooperation. There is a risk the paying partner could stop the premiums, causing the policy to lapse without the other's knowledge. A legal agreement is highly recommended.
Summary: Options for a Joint Policy
| Option | Best For... | Key Considerations |
|---|
| Cancel | Rarely recommended. Only if you no longer need cover. | You will lose cover. New cover will be more expensive. |
| One Takes Over | When one person needs to retain cover at the original rate. | Requires mutual consent. The other person loses cover. |
| Split / Separate | The ideal scenario if your policy allows it. | Check your T&Cs for a "separation option". Best of both worlds. |
| Keep As-Is | Securing court-ordered maintenance payments for children. | Requires a legal agreement to ensure premiums are paid. |
Updating Beneficiaries and Trusts
Whether you have a single policy or have just created a new one after splitting a joint policy, your next critical job is to ensure the money goes to the right people. Simply naming someone in your will is not enough.
The Power of Writing a Policy in Trust
A trust is a simple legal arrangement that separates your life insurance policy from your estate. You (the settlor) place your policy into the care of people you trust (the trustees) for the benefit of your chosen people (the beneficiaries).
Most insurers provide standard trust forms for free, and an adviser can help you complete them.
Why is a trust so important?
- It Avoids Probate: When a policy is not in trust, the payout forms part of your legal estate. Your executors must first obtain a Grant of Probate before the money can be accessed and distributed according to your will. This can be a slow process, often taking many months. For a family grieving and suddenly without your income, this delay can cause immense financial hardship. A policy in trust pays out directly to the beneficiaries via the trustees, often within a few weeks of the death certificate being issued.
- It Can Reduce Inheritance Tax (IHT): When the policy is written in trust, the payout typically does not form part of your estate for IHT purposes. With the current IHT threshold at £325,000, a large life insurance payout could easily create a 40% tax bill for your loved ones. A trust ensures they get 100% of the money.
- It Gives You Control: A trust allows you to specify exactly who benefits and even appoint trustees who can manage the money for young children until they are old enough to inherit directly.
If your policy is already in trust, you must review it. Your ex-spouse may be listed as a beneficiary and possibly even a trustee. You will need to complete legal paperwork (such as a Deed of Appointment) to remove them and appoint new trustees and/or beneficiaries.
We can help you set up a new policy in trust from the outset, ensuring your payout goes directly to the right people, quickly and tax-efficiently.
Do I Need a New Life Insurance Policy After Divorce?
Even if you've successfully managed your old policy, your life has changed, and your needs have too. It's highly likely you'll need to adjust your level of cover or take out a new policy altogether.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What are my new debts? Have you taken on the full family mortgage or bought a new property? Your cover should be enough to clear this debt.
- Who depends on me financially? Calculate the money your children would need to cover their upbringing, education, and general living costs until they are financially independent.
- Am I paying child maintenance? A specific life policy can be set up to cover the total value of these payments over the required term. This is known as a 'maintenance protection' policy.
- What would my family's living costs be without me? Consider day-to-day bills, childcare costs, and future expenses. A popular solution for this is Family Income Benefit.
Family Income Benefit (FIB) is a type of life insurance that doesn't pay a single lump sum. Instead, it pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income from the point of claim until the end of the policy term. This is often a more affordable and manageable way to replace a lost salary and cover ongoing family expenses, particularly when protecting young children.
Other Protection Insurance to Consider Post-Divorce
Life insurance protects your family if you die, but what happens if you become too ill to work? For a single-income household, a serious illness or injury can be financially catastrophic.
Critical Illness Cover (CIC)
This pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious conditions defined in the policy (e.g., some types of cancer, heart attack, stroke). This money can be used to pay off a mortgage, cover medical bills, or simply give you financial breathing space while you recover. After a divorce, you no longer have a partner's income to fall back on, making CIC even more vital.
Income Protection (IP)
Often described by financial advisers as the bedrock of any protection plan, Income Protection is designed to replace a portion of your monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.
- Why it's crucial post-divorce: As the sole earner, your income is the engine of your family's finances. If it stops, everything else stops. State benefits are minimal. An IP policy provides a regular, long-term safety net to cover your bills and maintain your standard of living until you can return to work.
- A Growing Need: The ONS reported that in January to March 2024, a record 2.8 million people in the UK were economically inactive due to long-term sickness. This highlights the very real risk of being unable to work for an extended period.
Comparing Protection Policies
| Policy Type | What it Does | Main Purpose Post-Divorce |
|---|
| Life Insurance | Pays a lump sum on death. | Clear mortgage/debts, provide for children. |
| Family Income Benefit | Pays a regular income on death. | Replace lost salary for ongoing family expenses. |
| Critical Illness Cover | Pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a serious illness. | Clear debts and cover costs during recovery, with no second income to rely on. |
| Income Protection | Pays a regular income if you can't work due to illness/injury. | The ultimate safety net to pay your bills as a single earner. |
Special Considerations for Business Owners, Directors, and the Self-Employed
For entrepreneurs and the self-employed, a divorce has implications not just for personal finances, but for the business too. Your income may be less predictable, and you lack the safety net of an employer's benefits package.
Self-Employed and Freelancers
If you work for yourself, you are your business. There is no employer sick pay, no death-in-service benefit, and no one to pick up the slack if you're unable to work.
- Income Protection is Essential: This is the number one priority. It is your replacement salary if you fall ill. You can tailor the policy by choosing how soon it pays out after you stop working (the 'deferment period').
- Personal Sick Pay: For those in riskier manual trades (e.g., electricians, builders, plumbers), specialist policies are available. These often have very short deferment periods (from day one or week one) to cover immediate income loss.
Company Directors and Business Owners
A divorce can destabilise a business, especially a small one. Protection insurance can create stability for you, your business, and your family.
- Relevant Life Cover: This is a highly tax-efficient way for a limited company to provide death-in-service benefits for an employee, including a director. Premiums are typically treated as a business expense (reducing your corporation tax bill), and the benefit is paid free of IHT to the employee's family via a trust. It's an excellent way to arrange personal life cover through your business.
- Key Person Insurance: What would happen to your business's profits if you, or another crucial member of staff, were to die or become critically ill? Key Person cover pays a lump sum to the business to cover lost profits, recruit a replacement, or clear business debts. This protects the business's value, which in turn protects your personal income stream.
- Executive Income Protection: This is an Income Protection policy owned and paid for by your limited company. Like Relevant Life Cover, the premiums are usually an allowable business expense. It provides a replacement income to you via the company if you're unable to work, protecting both you and the business.
A Practical Checklist: Your Post-Divorce Insurance Review
Use this step-by-step guide to take control of the process.
- Gather Your Documents: Find the policy schedules and terms and conditions for all your protection policies.
- Identify Policy Types: Are they joint or single policies? Who is the current owner?
- Check for a 'Separation Option': Read the fine print of any joint policies. If this clause exists, it's a huge advantage.
- Contact Your Broker or Insurer: Discuss the specific options available for your joint policy based on its terms.
- Review Beneficiaries and Trusts: Who is currently set to receive the money? If the policy is in trust, who are the trustees and beneficiaries? Take immediate steps to update these.
- Calculate Your New Needs: Use a budget planner to work out your mortgage, debts, maintenance obligations, and the income your family would need without you.
- Explore Trusts: If your policy isn't in trust, talk to an adviser about setting one up. It's usually free and straightforward.
- Assess Your 'Living' Protection: Review your need for Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover as a single-income household.
- Compare the Market: Don't just accept the first offer or stick with an old plan that's no longer suitable. Use a specialist broker like WeCovr to compare quotes and plans from all the UK's major insurers to find the right cover at the best price.
- Update Your Will: Your will and your insurance policies must work in harmony. Update your will to reflect your new circumstances and beneficiaries.
Wellness & Looking After Yourself During a Stressful Time
Divorce consistently ranks as one of the most stressful life events. This stress can take a toll on your physical and mental health, which is why self-care is not an indulgence but a necessity. Your ability to work, parent, and build a new life depends on your wellbeing.
- Nourish Your Body: When you're stressed and time-poor, it's easy to rely on convenience food. Try to plan a few simple, nutritious meals each week. Even small changes can boost your energy and mood.
- Prioritise Sleep: Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your sleep. Establish a calming pre-bed routine – switch off screens, read a book, or listen to relaxing music. Consistent, quality sleep is fundamental to mental resilience.
- Stay Active: You don't need to run a marathon. A daily 20-minute walk can do wonders for clearing your head and reducing stress hormones. Find an activity you enjoy and make it a non-negotiable part of your day.
- Seek Support: Don't go through it alone. Talk to trusted friends, family, or a professional counsellor. Sharing your burden can make it feel much lighter.
To support our clients' overall wellbeing, we provide complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero. It's a small way we can help you stay on track with your health goals during a challenging period.
Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Financial Future
Revisiting your life insurance after a divorce is more than just a financial chore; it's an act of care and responsibility for the people who depend on you now. It's about ensuring your legacy is one of security and protection, not confusion and financial hardship.
By understanding your existing policies, exploring your options, and aligning your cover with your new reality, you can take decisive control of your financial future. The decisions you make today will provide lasting peace of mind for you and a vital safety net for your loved ones for years to come.
Navigating the insurance market can be complex, especially during an already stressful time. You don't have to do it alone. Our expert advisers at WeCovr are here to provide clear, compassionate guidance, helping you compare all your options to build a protection plan that's perfect for your new chapter in life.
Can my ex-spouse cancel our joint life insurance policy without my consent?
Generally, no. For a joint policy, most insurers require the consent and signatures of both policyholders to make significant changes like cancellation. However, you should never assume this is the case. Check the specific terms and conditions of your policy. If one person stops paying the premiums on a joint policy, the insurer will notify both parties before the policy lapses, but it's vital to ensure they have your correct contact details post-divorce.
I'm ordered by the court to have life insurance for maintenance. How do I set this up?
If a court order requires you to have life insurance to cover maintenance payments, you should take out a new single life policy on yourself for the required amount and term. To ensure the payout goes to your ex-spouse for the benefit of your children, the policy can be legally 'assigned' to them, or more commonly, placed in a specific trust for this purpose. An adviser can help you set this up correctly to ensure it is legally binding and meets the court's requirements.
Will my life insurance premiums go up after my divorce?
The premiums on an existing policy will not change because of your divorce. However, if you cancel an old policy and take out a new one, your premiums will be calculated based on your current age, health, and lifestyle. As you will be older than when you took out the original policy, the new premiums are likely to be higher. This is why using a policy's 'separation option', if available, is so advantageous as it avoids new underwriting.
What happens to my life insurance if I don't update it after my divorce?
If you take no action, the policy will remain as it is. For a joint life policy, the surviving policyholder (your ex-spouse) would receive the payout. For a single life policy where your ex-spouse is the named beneficiary, they would also receive the payout. Your marital status is irrelevant; the insurer will pay the claim based on the legal owner and beneficiary listed on the policy documents. This could mean the people you intend to protect, like your children, receive nothing.
Is it better to have a single life policy or a joint one?
While a joint life policy is often slightly cheaper, two separate single life policies are almost always recommended for their flexibility. Two single policies provide double the cover (as each policy pays out), and they are far easier to manage in the event of a separation or divorce, as each person has control over their own policy. The complexities of joint policies post-divorce mean that the small initial saving is often not worth the potential future hassle.