Life Insurance & Will Updates

If the stay-at-home parent dies, the cost of full-time childcare, cooking, cleaning, and household management is $40-60k/year. Both lives have financial value.

Spouse as primary, with a contingent beneficiary (usually a trust for the child). Never name a minor as a direct beneficiary - the court will appoint a guardian for the money.

An online will through Trust & Will or LegalZoom costs $150-300. It's not romantic, but dying without one means a judge decides who raises your kid.

The hardest conversation you'll have. Pick someone who shares your values, has the capacity, and has agreed to the responsibility. Have the conversation before you write it down.

If your first choice can't serve, the court needs a Plan B that you chose. Without one, a judge picks based on whatever petition comes first.

A trust avoids probate and gives you more control over how money is managed for your child. Worth the $500-1500 cost, especially if you own property.

Fireproof safe at home or safe deposit box. Your executor needs to know where to find the will. A will nobody can find is the same as no will at all.

Log into your retirement accounts and update beneficiary designations. These override your will - if your ex is still listed, they get the money regardless of what the will says.

Add payable-on-death (POD) designations to checking and savings accounts. Takes 10 minutes at the bank and ensures money transfers instantly without probate.

If you had a policy before baby, the beneficiary might be outdated. Log in and verify. This takes 5 minutes and prevents months of legal headaches.

You'll receive the birth certificate 2-6 weeks after birth. Order 2-3 certified copies - you'll need them for insurance, passport, and school enrollment.

Apply at the hospital when you fill out birth certificate paperwork. Card arrives by mail in 2-4 weeks. You'll need the SSN to add baby to insurance and open a 529.

This is a hard deadline - most insurers give you 30 days from birth to add a dependent. Miss it and you wait until open enrollment. Call HR on day 1.

New dependent = lower tax withholding. Submit an updated W-4 to HR to increase your take-home pay. You'll also get the Child Tax Credit ($2,000/year) at tax time.

Tax-advantaged education savings. Even $25/month adds up over 18 years. Most states offer a tax deduction for contributions. Start early - compound interest is your best friend.

If you can't work due to injury or illness, disability insurance replaces 60-70% of your income. Check your employer benefits - most people are underinsured and don't know it.

Baby increases monthly expenses by $500-1500. Recalculate 6 months of expenses with the new number. This fund is the difference between a tough month and a crisis.