The House Matters in Divorce: Untangling the Legal, Financial and Emotional Ties Before You Sign on the Dotted Line - Paperback

by Laurel Starks (Author), Forrest Woody Mosten (Foreword by)

In divorce, deciding what to do with the house can become a source of strife, confusion, and financial ruin. Most are unprepared for the legal and financial ramifications about keeping or selling their home--their most important financial asset.

Divorce is stressful enough by itself. In the midst of other traumas, many divorcing people discover that they aren't just married to a spouse--they're also tied to their home and a mortgage, too. Their most financially and emotionally important asset can become a source of strife, confusion, anxiety--and all too often, financial ruin.

As they discover, it's not enough to divorce their former partner; they must divorce the house--a treacherous process, fraught with risks and unexpected challenges. Navigating it successfully requires expert help--and the kind of practical information provided in this book. Few people fully understand the complexities of real estate transactions, let alone their long-term ramifications. These matters take on even greater weight when they occur in the context of a wrenching, perhaps acrimonious breakup.

The House Matters in Divorceis a comprehensive guide written by an expert in divorce real estate that addresses all these issues, from the emotional impact to the dollars-and-cents details. It provides a framework of knowledge that will empower divorcing spouses to emerge financially sound and prepared for the future.

The result is a well-rounded view of what divorcing partners can expect, and concrete advice on how to manage the process.

Laurel Starks lives with her husband and two boys in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Front Jacket

In divorce, deciding what to do with the house can become a huge source of strife, confusion, and even financial ruin. Most are unprepared for the unique legal, financial, and emotional ramifications of either holding on to or selling their house at one of the worst times in their life.

The House Matters in Divorce presents the numerous legal, emotional, and practical challenges of equitably settling your marital home--and offers specifics on how to handle those issues and who to turn to for professional help. This book clears up common misconceptions about dividing real estate assets and empowers both parties to be proactive, make smart decisions, and emerge from this complex process financially sound and prepared for the future. It includes detailed information on:

Whether to sell or not
Common pitfalls that plague the uninformed
How to determine what the house is really worth
Making housing decisions that are truly in your children's best interests
What to do about the deed and the mortgage if one spouse stays in the home
Proceeds of the sale (if any) and what to do if there is no equity
The court's perspective and power

Learn how best to deal with your most important financial asset--your home--from a real estate expert who specialize in divorce. Get the facts about how to make wise and purposeful choices to set yourself up for success as you move forward with building a new life--a life that includes financial health.

Author Biography

Laurel Starks is a divorce real estate expert. She speaks frequently on real estate and divorce issues to legal, collaborative divorce, and mediation organizations. A former host of the talk radio program Real Estate Matters, Starks also serves as an expert witness in real estate matters related to divorce cases, including short sales and the mishandling of procedural aspects therein. She was nominated in 2016 for the coveted Innovator of the Year by Inman News, the real estate industry's leading news source.

Forrest Woody Mosten has been a mediator in private practice since 1979 and is a Collaborative Family Lawyer who specializes in negotiating fair settlements based on informed client consent. He is the author of several bestselling books in Mediation and Collaborative Practice.