Divorce is a fact of life.
If you should find yourself needing to divvy up assets and liabilities during a divorce settlement, you'll have to consider insurance coverage for your kids.
Determining how to deal with your teen's auto insurance can create problems because there's no set formula. The decision should be something that's negotiated between both parents. If Mom has sole custody, the teen driver should be on her policy. However, if Mom and Dad share custody, both should include the teen under their coverage.
The premium you pay for your teen's auto insurance will depend on where you live. When setting rates, insurance companies look at the claims history in the locale where the car is garaged. Premiums vary from city to city, and even among ZIP codes in the same city. So, if you're moving from a rural to an urban area or from a low-crime neighborhood in a city to one where there are more vehicle thefts and auto burglaries, your premiums will increase.
Homeowner insurance is linked to ownership of the property and who is listed on the mortgage. If the home is in both parents' names, coverage would also be under both names. In this case, you should have a written agreement dividing responsibly for mortgage and insurance payments.
If you move from the family home into an apartment, you'll need renters insurance to cover your belongings, as well as your children's personal items and additional liability protection - even if you're still named on the homeowners policy.
To receive expert advice from our agency's personal lines specialists during this difficult period, free of charge, please feel free to give us a call.