Co-written with Matthew Carroll of Keystone Mediation For many, March is the month couples conclude their marriage. March is infamously known as “divorce month” in family law circles. Statistics show that rates spike in the early months of the year, peak in March, then subside, and rise again in August when children return to school.  Why …

March Madness: Why Divorcing Couples Often Choose March to File for Divorce Read More »

This article is part of a 5-part series on what divorcing couples might do when faced with the pressing question of what to do with the family home.   This fifth option—swapping the home for other major assets, typically applies when a joint mortgage is not a factor. For example, trading assets may make sense for …

Divorce and the Family Home: Option Five – Swap the Home for Other Major Assets Read More »

This article is part of a 5-part series on what divorcing couples might do when faced with the pressing question of what to do with the family home. This fourth option, continued home co-ownership of the family home post-divorce, is gaining traction for one simple reason – interest rates are as high as they’ve been since …

Divorce and the Family Home: Option Four – You Continue to Co-Own the Home Together Read More »

This article is part of a 5-part series on what divorcing couples might do when faced with the pressing question of what to do with the family home.   This third option – assumption of the loan — serves as an alternative to refinancing. Some mortgagors allow one spouse to assume the loan.  A “loan assumption” …

Divorce and the Family Home: Option Three – Assumption of the Loan Read More »

This article is part of a 5-part series on what divorcing couples might do when faced with the pressing question of what to do with the family home.   This second option – a cash-out refinance – can make sense if one spouse wants to stay in the home, and the other is fine to cash …

Divorce and the Family Home: Option Two – A Cash-Out Refinance Read More »

This article is part of a 5-part series on what divorcing couples might do when faced with the pressing question of what to do with the family home. It is a decision many families are grappling with throughout the country.  The numbers help to tell the story: 65 percent of Americans own homes; Americans owe …

Divorce and the Family Home: Option One – Sell the Home and Split the Proceeds Read More »