Close

How to Update Your Mobile Phone Plan After Divorce

Getting a divorce is a huge endeavor, and as you move through the stages of your break-up, you don't want to leave any loose ends that could hold you back as you start your next chapter. This includes seemingly minor tasks like changing the details of your mobile phone plan. 

As a married couple, you probably shared a family phone plan to make it more cost-effective. After your divorce, however, you’ll want to update your phone plan to reflect your current life situation.

Separate lives, separate phone plans

For financial reasons, you may feel daunted by the prospect of changing your phone plan after divorce. Many couples share a phone plan to save money. Changing this arrangement may not seem feasible if you’re facing financial difficulties. You might even feel tempted to continue sharing a phone plan with your ex-spouse to save money.

But look closely at what’s available. There are pay-as-you-go plans and prepaid plans that might save you money. There are discounts available for students, seniors, military members, and employees of some companies and government agencies. A simple Google search for “how to save money on your smartphone bill” may be all that’s necessary to find something cheaper than what you had before.

What’s more, staying on the same phone plan as your ex can be a bit like living in the past when what you really need to do is move forward. Finding your own new phone plan – and perhaps your own new phone number – can help you focus on moving on. It’ll remind you that it’s time to build new connections and relationships outside of your former partner’s influence and control.

Potential challenges when changing your phone plan

Early termination penalties

An issue to consider is the type of contract or agreement you have with your current provider. You may run into complications if the terms of your plan are not clearly outlined or if there are fees and penalties you weren't aware of. For example, there may be an early termination fee for getting out of your contract due to your break-up. 

One solution would be to split the termination fee with your ex-spouse. If they’re not willing to share this cost with you, however, you might decide to pay it yourself. If you don’t break the contract and get yourself off the plan, your ex could potentially view your call history after you’re no longer married. 

Technical aspects of the change

Another challenge can be navigating the technical aspects of separating and closing accounts, especially if one partner has more familiarity with phones and other mobile devices than the other. It can be difficult to separate all of your accounts and cancel any automatic renewals without accidentally creating new charges or incurring cancellation fees.

Disconnecting shared accounts after divorce

Mobile phone plans aren't the only accounts that need to be addressed after divorce. You'll also need to make sure your credit cards, health insurance, car insurance, asset titles, and even your recurring monthly expenses are changed to your name only. You don't want to be paying for your spouse's new expenses – and they don't want to be paying for yours. While tedious, these are necessary steps to make your transition to your new life better.

At Hello Divorce, we strive to help couples with all aspects of divorce, from practical advice about updating utilities to more complex endeavors like filing for mediated divorce with your spouse. Click here to set up your free 15-minute phone call to learn more about the helpful worksheets, downloads, plans, and services we offer.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Divorce Content Specialist & Lawyer
Divorce Strategy, Divorce Process, Legal Insights

Bryan is a non-practicing lawyer, HR consultant, and legal content writer. With nearly 20 years of experience in the legal field, he has a deep understanding of family and employment laws. His goal is to provide readers with clear and accessible information about the law, and to help people succeed by providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the legal landscape. Bryan lives in Orlando, Florida.