When couples get married, no one is thinking about who purchased the couch, car, or savings account; it’s all “ours.” One of the most challenging elements of a divorce is deciding who will get what assets. With the right guidance and a shared focus on fairness and cooperation, you can navigate asset division and ultimately reach a reasonable agreement. INVENTORY YOUR ASSETS One of the first things you should do in a pending or ongoing divorce is to get a strong sense of all the assets in the relationship. Create a list, preferably with your spouse if you can maintain civility, of any jointly owned property and valuables you have. You need to include shared assets like homes, land, vehicles, bank accounts, household items, collectibles, and even retirement plans. Any time couples can create this list together, it helps prevent the costly and time- consuming process of dividing assets through divorce litigation. When going through this process, be sure to notate any property you owned prior to the marriage or property inherited or gifted to you during the marriage. Most times, this property is considered your own “separate” property not subject to equitable division by the Court. Hopefully, you can work through counsel to develop a property division agreement both parties will sign. DIVIDING HOMES AND VEHICLES High-value items essential to day-to-day life, such as the marital residence or car, are some of the most important assets to discuss. When a couple has children, oftentimes, judges may award the house to the parent with primary custody of them. However, it’s not guaranteed. The Court will also look at factors like the ages of both parties, the duration of the marriage, the potential income of each spouse, and the general needs of both parties. In some cases, the Court may order the house to be sold with the net proceeds to be divided in such fashion as the Judge sees fit. Vehicles are often considered separate property if an individual purchased the vehicle before marriage. Additionally, in the event a couple owns two vehicles, one of which is used primarily by one spouse and the other used by the other spouse, the Courts will typically keep things at status quo in determining “who gets what car.” That said, when couples share a car, it can be far more complex. Usually, the courts will look at the name on the title, but that doesn’t necessarily determine who gets the car. The goal is to create an equitable property division, so the Judge may decide one person should receive the vehicle, but the other individual should receive a different asset of similar value. At Douglass & Runger, our divorce lawyers are experienced in working with clients through the equitable division of marital property. They will guide you through the process so everyone can move forward with a fair agreement. If you would like to set up a free case evaluation about your divorce, please give us a call at 901-388-5805 . From ‘Ours’ to Yours and Mine How to Handle Asset Division During a Divorce
Inspired by LeCremeDeLaCrumb.com
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
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2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving 2 tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup pine nuts 1 cup spinach Fresh thyme, for topping Salt and pepper to taste Cooked rice or linguine, for serving
5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 tbsp herbes de Provence 3/4 cup canned sun-dried tomatoes, drained and julienned 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup heavy cream
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Directions 1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 7–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside. 2. In the same pan, add garlic, herbes de Provence, tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pine nuts, and spinach and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and stir periodically until thickened and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. 3. Return chicken to the pan and top with salt, pepper, more Parmesan cheese, and thyme, and serve over rice or linguine. INSPIRATION “There is no better compass than compassion.” —Amanda Gorman
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