Signing the settlement is not the finish line for your finances. Autopays keep running, joint cards keep syncing, and one missed mortgage hits both credit scores. The fix is speed plus structure. Use this 10-day plan to unwind cleanly in Georgia and keep your uncontested case peaceful.
Your 10-Day Money Detox
Day 1 — Snapshot & Freeze
- Download last 12 statements for all joint bank and credit accounts.
- Pull free credit reports and place fraud alerts if needed.
- Create a shared folder or portal for uploading proof during the transition.
Day 2 — New Solo Accounts
- Open new checking/savings in your name only.
- Move your direct deposit.
- Switch two-factor authentication on every financial app to your phone/email.
Day 3 — Autopays & Subscriptions
- From statements, list all autopays: streaming, cloud storage, utilities, insurance, gym, apps.
- Cancel or transfer each to the correct party. Set reminders for annual renewals.
Day 4 — Joint Banking Wind-Down
- Reduce joint account balances to the agreed split, then lock or close.
- Remove each other as authorized users on every credit card.
- Confirm in writing how any cash-back/points are handled.
Day 5 — Housing: Mortgage & Lease
- If one spouse keeps the home, calendar the refinance deadline and gather lender docs.
- If refinance fails, your order should trigger automatic listing with price-drop rules.
- Renting? Notify landlord, update lease or submit notice per the agreement.
Day 6 — Vehicles
- Transfer titles at the tag office; note ad valorem obligations.
- Set insurance to the correct owner and upload proof of coverage.
- If a loan will be assumed, start the application; if not, follow the payoff/sale plan.
Day 7 — Insurance & Beneficiaries
- Health/dental/vision: set who carries which child, add ID cards to the portal.
- Life insurance to secure support (if required): confirm owner, beneficiary, amount, and annual proof.
- Home/umbrella/auto policies: fully separate today.
Day 8 — Support & Kids’ Expenses
- Calculate and attach the Georgia Child Support Worksheet if not already done.
- Set the payment method (income deduction or state portal) and due date.
- For uncovered medical expenses, use a 30-day submit/30-day reimburse rule and keep receipts.
Day 9 — Retirement & QDROs
- Identify each plan (401(k), pension).
- Assign who drafts the QDRO, the valuation date, and who pays plan fees.
- Calendar the administrator’s timelines so transfers don’t stall for months.
Day 10 — Proof & Enforcement
- Turn on monthly statement uploads for any joint obligations until transfers finish.
- Add a simple fee-shifting clause for willful nonpayment and a quick mediation step for routine disputes.
- Check your credit monitoring. Celebrate a cleaner ledger.
Vague Terms That Drain Wallets
- “Refinance when able.”
- “Split debts fairly.”
- “Keep paying the car until she takes it.”
- “We’ll work out reimbursements as needed.”
Replace each with dates, dollars, documents, and defaults: deadlines, exact amounts, proof rules, and what happens if a step doesn’t happen.
Georgia Practicalities
Courts sign orders that are clear and enforceable, not hopeful. County practice in Richmond, Columbia, and Burke can differ on affidavits and packet format. Clean packets keep many uncontested cases on a roughly 30-day approval track when the court is satisfied.
Professional Bottom Line
Divorce ends the relationship. Your money detox ends the cash leaks. Follow the 10-day plan, and your uncontested case stays calm, fast, and final.
Closing Message
Want a county-ready packet plus a money-detox checklist tailored to your facts? Catherine Verdery Ryan, Attorney at Law, drafts and reviews uncontested agreements that close accounts, transfer titles, and protect credit the first time.
Visit catherineryanlawyer.com to finish cleanly.