Should I Fight for the Marital Home During Mediation?

May 10, 2023
By Alternative Divorce Solutions

If your marriage is coming to an end and you are going through the mediation process, you and your spouse will need to hash out the details of your settlement through careful negotiations. Some of the key issues you will need to agree on include asset and property division. If you have a home, it will likely be a big point of contention during these discussions. However, you might want to reconsider fighting for the marital home during mediation. It might not necessarily be in your best interests to hold onto it and, in fact, it could ultimately become a major burden.

Why it Might Not be a Good Idea to Keep the Marital Home

Your home likely means a lot to you for several reasons, some of which might be sentimental, especially if you have children you hoped to raise in it. That said, it is important to be practical about what you choose to fight for during mediation.

Here are some reasons why keeping the marital home might not be a good idea:

  1. You might not be able to afford it: One of the biggest reasons why keeping the marital home might not be a good idea is because you probably cannot afford it on your own. In a two-income household, it was probably more feasible to make your house payments, such as your mortgage, insurance, and property taxes. However, on your own, you might not be able to afford all the expenses that come with owning a house. In addition to making these regular payments, you will also have to consider the cost of regular repairs or maintenance. If you cannot afford the upkeep, the home you love might become too much of a financial burden and you might end up having to sell it.
  1. You have to refinance your mortgage: Did you and your spouse take out the mortgage on the home together? If so, the only way to remove his or her name from it is to refinance the mortgage or sell the home. Generally, a mortgage company will not remove a spouse’s name from the mortgage simply because the marriage is ending, so you are going to have to refinance it, which might not always be practical.
  1. The only real way to know a home’s worth is to sell it: If your spouse does not fight you on letting you keep the home, he or she will likely still dispute the value of it. Generally, the spouse who wants to keep the home undervalues it while the other overvalues it. A certified appraisal can help settle this, but it is still only an estimate. The only way to know the value of your home is to put it on the market, which means someone is bound to get the bad end of the deal.

Contact an Attorney at Alternative Divorce Solutions Today!

If you are dissolving your marriage, you need an experienced divorce mediation team on your side. Contact Alternative Divorce Solutions today at 949-368-2121 to schedule a free initial consultation!

Related Posts

Is Mediation the Same as Divorce?

Is Mediation the Same as Divorce?Divorce is rarely an easy choice to make. Deciding to end your marriage can have inevitable and lasting impacts on your life and future. While summoning the courage to ask for a divorce can be emotionally draining, there are many other decisions that soon-to-be divorcees must make after the paperwork […]

read more

How Do I Handle Valentine’s Day After Divorce?

Staying PositiveValentine’s Day can be difficult for those who have gone through a divorce. Knowing how to celebrate the holiday can be hard when your relationship is no longer intact. If you are struggling to figure out how to handle Valentine’s Day this year, don’t worry! We are here to help. In this blog, we […]

read more

Are Divorce Mediators the Same as Divorce Attorneys?

Divorce Mediators vs. Divorce Lawyers: What’s the Difference?Deciding to end a marriage is never easy. For many couples, the choice to file for divorce can lead to more overwhelming decisions, responsibilities, and a never-ending list of tasks. From hiring an attorney to modifying living arrangements to forming a financial plan, choosing to end a marriage […]

read more