Divorce and Your Insurance in Connecticut: Homes, Cars, Jewelry, Umbrellas, and the Automatic Orders

Short answer: In Connecticut, automatic orders take effect when a divorce action begins and, among other things, restrict either spouse from canceling or changing existing insurance coverage, including homeowners and auto, without the other's consent or a court order. Keep everything in force while the case is pending. At the settlement, each person will need their own homeowners or renters, auto, umbrella and valuables coverage, and joint policies have to be split carefully so no one, including the children, is left uninsured.

While the divorce is pending

• Do not cancel, reduce or let lapse any policy without written agreement or a court order. Talk to your attorney first.
• If one spouse moves out, tell the insurer. The departing spouse may need renters coverage for belongings at the new address, and cars garaged elsewhere must be disclosed.
• Notify the insurer if a home becomes vacant, which can affect coverage; see vacant home insurance.

Splitting the program at settlement

• The house: the spouse keeping it should become the named insured, and the other removed once title transfers. If the home is to be sold, it stays insured until closing.
• Cars: each person needs a policy for the vehicles they keep. Children who drive must be listed on at least one policy, and the household where they live matters.
• Jewelry and art: scheduled items should be moved to the policy of whoever owns them under the settlement. Engagement rings, heirlooms and gifts often need reappraisal at this point.
• Umbrella: each spouse needs their own umbrella with matching underlying limits. A former spouse is usually no longer covered under the other's policy once they are no longer a resident of the household.
• Life and disability insurance may be required by the settlement to secure alimony and child support; that is a separate discussion with your financial advisor.

Children and two households

Children who split time between two homes are usually covered as household members of the parent with whom they primarily live, and sometimes both, depending on policy wording. Teen drivers need to be listed where they have regular access to a car. Students away at school should be covered for belongings and liability under at least one parent's policy.

A clean break checklist

• Inventory every policy: homes, cars, boats, umbrella, valuables, flood, cyber
• Assign each policy and item to one person in the settlement
• Set effective dates so new policies start before old ones end
• Update mortgagee, lienholder and loss-payee information

New England Insurance, an independent Connecticut agency in Bridgeport since 2012, works with clients and their attorneys to separate private-client programs without coverage gaps. Contact us confidentially.

General information, not legal advice. Consult your Connecticut family law attorney about the automatic orders.