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SBC Divorce Planning Education

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Official resources and practical tools

Find IRS, Department of Labor, SSA, health coverage, court self-help and legal-assistance resources, with clear roles and source verification status.

Safety comes before paperwork.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential support by phone, text, and chat.

thehotline.org

Financial and coverage information

IRS Publication 504 addresses federal divorce-related tax topics. DOL explains ERISA retirement division and COBRA. SSA determines Social Security eligibility. Read the relevant agency's current guidance and confirm personal questions directly.

Sources referenced

  • IRS Publication 504

    Federal filing status, alimony instrument dates, property transfers, carryover tax basis, and IRA transfers incident to divorce.

    Last checked: 2026-11-09Verification: Destination retrieved and supporting content reviewed. Not individualized legal, tax or investment advice.

  • Department of Labor: practical QDRO guide

    ERISA-covered employer retirement plans require a valid QDRO for division; plan qualification, timing, and survivor benefits matter.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • Social Security: divorced spouse eligibility

    General living divorced-spouse eligibility: age, marital status, ten-year marriage, own-benefit coordination, and the two-year rule when a worker has not applied.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • HealthCare.gov: coverage after a life change

    Loss of qualifying health coverage can create a Special Enrollment Period; divorce without coverage loss does not by itself qualify.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • Department of Labor: COBRA

    COBRA continuation coverage, qualifying events and election timing; eligibility and cost require plan-specific confirmation.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: money tools

    Spending trackers, cash-flow budgeting, debt logs and organizing financial goals.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • Legal assistance directory

    A nonprofit legal-assistance directory to identify providers and their eligibility requirements. SBC is not a nonprofit or affiliated with these providers.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline

    An independent safety-support resource. This website does not collect personal safety narratives.

    Last checked: 2026-11-08Verification: Destination retrieved. Link access checked; confirm current program details directly.

View the full source registry

Keep reading

Financial planning by stateDivorce financial planning by stateFinancial planning by cityDivorce financial planning by cityNational financial planningFinancial planning in the event of divorce: national guide