When considering a divorce, it is the big things that get most of the attention. Child custody and spousal support may be the topics that occupy much of your attention. That makes sense, divorce is almost always represents a major change in the lives of everyone involved. It certainly makes sense to give consideration to the major decisions and determinations that will shape your life moving forward.

But as the divorce process moves forward, you will likely notice that there is an incredible amount of narrower details that need to be addressed as well. One area that it is important not to overlook is your insurance policies. It is important to ensure that you do not find you or your children unintentionally without insurance.

For life insurance policies it is important to be certain to change your beneficiaries if necessary. This also holds true for pensions or retirement plans other accounts for which you have to designate a beneficiary. A qualified domestic relations order is a document used by the court to manage the division of the retirement plan.

If either spouse is covered under the others work-provided health insurance it is important to understand and manage how you will be covered going forward. COBRA is available for up to three years, but that will require the covered individual to pay the premiums. In some cases there may be alternative options that are more cost effective.

During the divorce process the property division will assign the cars and if applicable the marital home. Both of these will likely require a corollary update to an insurance policy, or more likely the creation of a new policy.

Source: MSN Money, "5 post-divorce insurance do's and don'ts," Feb. 7, 2012