One of the most common sources of tension during a Wheat Ridge or Arvada divorce is splitting property and assets. Often, this includes personal property – things one party feels they should be able to keep in the family home while the other party may feel it’s their right to take it. If one party leave the residence, it often becomes difficult for them to then take anything they left behind. While these items are usually relatively inexpensive – they can sometimes be the reason for major delays in the divorce proceedings, which will likely cost you money. Let’s look at some ways to address the retrieval of personal items, without making it a contentious issue.
Steps to Making the Collection of Your Personal Property Easier During a Jefferson County Divorce
There are many steps you can take in order to make the process of getting / keeping your personal items go more smoothly:
- Make a list of all your personal items – Of your items are in the possession of the other party during the pendency of the divorce, you want to make sure that you have a complete list of all the items you are expecting to get back. This way it can be written into the divorce agreement and you won’t have to worry about arguments after the fact due to any vague language.
- Attempt a voluntary division of personal property – If the list you created is amenable to both you and the other party, then you may be able to work out an agreement where you simply set aside a time to exchange the property. As long as the court doesn’t have an active order preventing the exchange of the property, you could handle this situation in that manner. It’s best just to do this with items that are valued at less than $500.
- Getting a third party involved – It may be too difficult for one party to simply hand over the items to another at the home. Sometimes suggesting a third party – someone neutral or perhaps a friend trusted by both parties could facilitate the exchange of items.
- Allowing the Jefferson County Court to order the property division – If dividing personal property is just too contentious to try and work out outside of court, the matter can be brought before the judge.
Remember, if you are the one holding the property, you are under the obligation to preserve it – meaning you can sell it or destroy it.
If you are getting a divorce, contact the best family law attorneys from the Pearman Law Firm at 720-259-9528.
Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash.