One of the most emotionally charged issues that comes up in a divorce is the tricky problem of dividing a couple’s shared possessions. There are times when it can actually be easier to split major assets – like bank accounts, real estate and cars – than it is to divide the household items.
Most people don’t realize just how emotionally attached they can get to their furniture, artwork and other mementos. Knowing when to fight it out over your possessions and when to let things go, however, is critical.
How should these items be divided?
Arizona is a community property state, which means that all marital property is supposed to be divided 50/50. However, you can’t exactly divide a couch or a painting down the middle.
Ideally, couples will come to some kind of agreement about their household goods. Often, couples choose to divide things according to their interests or needs – such as letting the spouse who likes to cook keep all the kitchen goods while the spouse who gardens keeps all the yard tools. Other items might be divided by “sets,” where one spouse keeps the living room furniture and the other takes the furniture from the bedroom. Smaller items may be split up according to value or by simply taking turns.
If you and your spouse can’t agree, however, fighting it out in court and requiring a judge to decide is just going to add to the time and cost of your divorce. In the end, nobody can decide what’s worth fighting over in a divorce except the people involved. However, having sound legal guidance can help you better determine what’s worth fighting for.