If there is one thing that can make your divorce easier on yourself and your spouse it’s to find common ground. Being able to find a basic starting point for your divorce will help you start working on tasks to help resolve your divorce. For example, agreeing that you’re going to divide profits from selling your home equally is a good place to start if you’re attempting an equal property division agreement.
In Virginia, equitable distribution rules prevail. That means that you don’t need to divide your property equally. Instead, you’ll do what’s equitable. Many couples still attempt to divide their property as evenly as possible to make it easier to do so. You may agree to that, or you might work out another arrangement with your spouse up front. After you both look at your budgets, talk about how much you need out of your marital assets. You may find that a 50-50 split is right for you, or you may agree to another arrangement, like 70-30 or 40-60.
When you have kids, finding ways to agree is vital
Being able to agree on at least some aspects of your divorce is essential when you have children. The standard in court is that you will do what’s in the best interests of your children at all times. You and your spouse should sit down and talk through a parenting plan and custody schedule. If you can agree, then it will be much easier to move forward with your divorce. If not, then you may end up having to mediate or go through litigation in divorce court.
Finding common ground during your divorce doesn’t mean you have to agree to everything your spouse wants or be too flexible, but it does mean that you’ll be willing to negotiate and agree to at least something to start the process. As you commit to working together to resolve your divorce, you may find that you are able to save time, money and effort. You may also get a better outcome, and one you agree with, in comparison to taking your case to court.
