Issues to be Considered during Divorce Negotiations
- Court cost and attorney's fees - Who pays?
- Property - Who receives the house? Who pays the mortgage? Will the mortgage be refinanced? How will the equity be divided if it is sold?
- Personal property - How will the personal property, cars, appliances and furniture be divided? Who is responsible for debt on personal property? Will the debt be refinanced?
- Retirement - What happens to any retirement benefits that have accrued?
- Debts - Who pays what? Should the debts be paid off by refinancing?
- Alimony - How much? How long?
- Primary Custodial Parent - Who will have the children the majority of the time? Should the children be split? Should any aspects of custody be shared? Who makes educational, religious and medical decisions concerning the children? Will joint custody work?
- Child support - How much? How long? Who carries health or life insurance on children? Who gets to claim the children as income tax deductions? Private school or college tuition?
- Visitation - Do you want a specific schedule or can you and your spouse work together on it?
- Life insurance - Who is insured? Who is the beneficiary? Term or cash value? How much?
- Health insurance - Who is covered? In many cases an employee's spouse can be covered up to thirty-six (36) months after the divorce by the employed spouse's insurance for a small additional premium.
- Other - Security for obligations in the agreement, for wills, for death, and for taxes.