A divorce is sure to change your life in many ways, including the fact that you will probably lose some property to your ex-spouse.
When it comes to matters of property division, there is no shortage of items to think about. For example, personal property is often the largest category, as this includes almost everything you keep in your home.
Some of the more common types of personal property include:
- Antiques
- Collectibles
- Home furnishings
- Electronics
- Guns
- Jewelry
- Home office equipment
- Crystal
- Clothing
- Motor vehicles
- Boats and ATVs
While these are among the most common items divided in divorce, they are far from the only things that will come into consideration.
You should create a comprehensive list of all property that needs divided. Even if you brought something into the marriage, and it’s not joint property, you should still include it on your list (and mark it as such).
It’s up to you and your spouse to negotiate your way through the property division process, often with the help of a mediator. You’ll need to compromise on some items, but there’s no way around this. If you want to put your divorce in the past, you need to keep an open and flexible mind.
Personal property division can be complicated and challenging, as there’s a good chance you and your ex-spouse won’t agree on how to move forward. Even so, since this is such a big part of any divorce, you need to be prepared for everything that comes your way. Knowing your property inside and out will help you avoid making a poor decision.
Source: FindLaw, “Checklist: Dividing Marital Property,” accessed March 21, 2018