One of the biggest challenges in the divorce process is deciding how to divide joint property. No matter whether you have been married for 1 year or for 25 years, you accumulate many things during your marriage that are difficult to part with. But the fact is that agreeing on how to equitably divide all of the things that you own together is difficult. Mediation can be an effective tool for managing this process. Rather than leaving these decisions in the hands of a judge and divorce attorneys, mediation allows you to negotiate and settle this process yourself. The team at AMS Mediation can help you with this process. Here are a few tips that we share with our clients:
Create a list: We recommend that our clients develop a detailed spreadsheet of all joint property. This can take some time, but it always helps to have it during the mediation sessions. You should include all physical property (like cars, your home, furnishings, etc) as well as monetary assets and debt.
Assign value to the items on the list: The next step in the process is to assign a monetary value to the items on your list. This way, when you start dividing the items, you can see how equitably the division is at each step.
Think about your priorities: It is normal for each party to have items that are important to them. Try to formulate a list of priorities that you would choose to keep first, if you have the chance. If you and your spouse complete this exercise it can help balance out the more important items on the list.
Keep an open mind: It may sound silly but keeping an open mind during this process is extremely important. There is no possible way that you will get every single item that you want. Sharing is difficult but coming to an agreement about dividing your joint property is possible, especially when you work with a skilled and trained mediator. Mediation is about collaboration and about finding common ground. This method is much more effective than a court battle.
Settle The Terms Of Your Divorce Using Mediation
AMS Mediation has been helping couples just like you settle the terms of divorce for more than a decade. We can help you with all aspects of your divorce including the division of marital property. For more information or to set up a time for a free consultation, give us a call at 952-252-1492.
