Fine & Associates Professional Corporation

It is frequently necessary to divide the contents of the Matrimonial Home.  You do not want to pay a lawyer to argue over contents, the cost will likely exceed the amount at issue.  As a result, there are several methods one can use in amicably dividing the contents of the Matrimonial Home, namely as follows:

1.  sell all of the contents and divide the proceeds of sale;

2. have a “shot gun clause” whereby one person makes an offer to purchase all of the contents of the house, but also must be willing to sell his/her interest in the contents to the other party on the same terms;

3. Don’t fight over the contents.  It is sometimes not worth it.  Take your personal items and forget about the rest.  You can always buy a new couch;

4. one party makes two lists of equal value listing all of the contents in the house.  The other party gets to pick one of the two lists.  It is a risk as to the list of items that you will end up with, but it is quick and easy;

5. one party makes a list of all of the items in the house (group the smaller items together – ie. bathroom contents).   The parties then take turns picking from the list.

It is important to stay focused on the big issues (ie. custody/ access, child/spousal support, and property division) and not get hung up on the small issues.    It does not make logical sense to fight over tools or books.  The cost does not justify the amount at issue.  Stay focused and objective and you will have a successful divorce.