Sometimes, making the decision to divorce is the hardest part of the marital dissolution process. However, it is oftentimes far more challenging to navigate the aftermath of this decision than it is to file for divorce in the first place. After a couple opts to move forward from their marriage, a host of additional decisions needs to be made in regards to shared relationships, child custody and property division. Some of these decisions may come easily, while others may be significantly more difficult to discern.
For example, if you have decided to end your marriage, you may be wondering whether you should move out of the marital home. If your home is not yet paid off, you will need to consider whether you can handle mortgage payments, taxes and upkeeps on your newly single salary. If your home is paid off, you may be more concerned about how keeping your home in the divorce will impact other asset division matters, as your spouse is generally entitled to half of your shared marital wealth.
In addition, you may be concerned about the emotional ramifications of moving versus remaining in your marital home. On the one hand, you may love your home and you may wish to keep your residence stable for the sake of your children and other loved ones. On the other hand, you may be understandably concerned about the “ghosts†of your married life haunting your residence with memories that may no longer be as welcome as they once were.
Only you can answer the question of whether you should move in the wake of your decision to divorce. Your attorney can aid you in making this decision, but ultimately only you can fully understand the economic and emotional impacts of your options.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Choosing to Live With Ghosts,†Shannon Lell, Feb. 3, 2015
