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

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.

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.