Asset division and support: Deciding who gets what, and what comes next financially

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address

Phone Number

Postal Code *

How can we help?

Home

Divorce Services ellipse

Asset Division & Support

After the Financial Agreement, the focus shifts to your financial future. The question is no longer what the assets are, but rather what to do with them. And that question, it turns out, is more personal and more forward-looking than most people expect.
The Financial Pie™ Division stage is where each spouse sits down privately with their Divorce Resolution Expert and looks at their financial future to make very practical decisions that actually work for their life going forward.

What would it mean to keep the family home versus starting fresh somewhere new? What does the division look like if spousal support is part of the picture? What are the trade-offs between taking a lump sum and receiving ongoing monthly payments? What does financial independence actually look like from here?

These conversations happen individually with your divorce mediator, without the other spouse in the room. That allows both people to think clearly, ask questions they might not ask in a joint setting, and arrive at positions that genuinely reflect their needs.

Previous Step Next Step

How the division works

The division stage begins with your Divorce Resolution Expert walking you through a series of scenarios, clearly explaining what each option actually means now and in the future. Your expert understands the impact of each decision and flags those that could have long-term implications. The goal of these scenarios is to give you a clear, informed picture of what each option actually means now and in the future.

There are many ways in which you may decide to divide your assets. What does the balance sheet look like if you keep the house and your spouse takes the registered accounts? What if it goes the other way? What if the house is sold and the proceeds divided? How does spousal support factor in when it is a monthly amount vs. a lump sum, etc.

Some decisions seem straightforward but have long-term financial implications. For example an asset may be valuable on paper but illiquid in practice, a pension cannot simply be split in half, and it may be financially hard to keep a house when you have to carry it alone.

One of the most important things your expert will help you avoid is becoming asset-rich and cash-poor. A settlement that looks generous on a spreadsheet can leave one spouse with significant assets and very little flexibility. The division stage is where that risk is identified and addressed before the agreement is signed.

Spousal support and child support

Alongside property division, the Financial Pie™ Division stage is where spousal support and child support are negotiated and determined. Spousal support is shaped by the length of the marriage, each spouse's role, and the income gap at separation. Child support is set by federal law based on the paying parent's income and number of children. Where both apply, your expert presents the full picture of how they interact and evolve over time, so you can plan your future with complete clarity.

Spousal support is not automatic. It depends on entitlement, which is established by the length of the marriage, the roles each spouse played, the needs of each party, and the income gap that exists at the point of separation. Where entitlement exists, the amount and duration are guided by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines which give a range, not a fixed figure. Your expert will walk you through what that range looks like for your specific situation, including what happens to the calculation when child support is also in the picture, and how the numbers shift as children leave the home over time.

Child support follows the federal Child Support Guidelines, and the amount is determined by the paying parent's income and the number of children. Child support is a federal law, designed to ensure children are supported regardless of the relationship between their parents. Your financial divorce expert will explain how the guidelines apply to your situation, how additional costs of activities, childcare, and medical needs (section 7 expenses) are handled, and how child support interacts with the overall financial settlement.

Where both spousal support and child support are in play, the sequencing and interaction between them matters. Your divorce mediator will present the full picture, including how the numbers evolve over time, so you completely understand the agreement and plan your future around it.

Working with your own advisors

The division stage is also the point in the process where outside professionals most frequently play a role. We actively support it if you have a financial advisor or accountant whose input would help you evaluate your options. Your Divorce Resolution Expert shares the relevant financial information with your advisors and coordinates where needed.

This is particularly valuable in situations involving a business, significant investment holdings, complex pension structures, or tax implications that require professional input. Fairway does not replace those specialists, we involve them in the mediation process where relevant.

Previous Step Next Step

Client testimonials

Success comes in many forms. For us, it is hearing back from our clients and reading how we have changed their lives for the better. These stories are the reason we do what we do.

The Fairway process removed a lot of the conflict and bitterness from an otherwise very painful process. It helped to take a lot of the emotion out of an emotional time, to allow clear thought at a time where emotions can easily take control. The people at Fairway are very professional and knowledgeable in what they do. They have a vast pool of experience they pull from to help guide to a more peaceful and fair resolution.

- Fairway Client

See All Testimonials

What comes next

If children are involved, the next step is to complete the Nurtured Children Plan™. You can read more about that on the Parenting Plan page.

Once both spouses have worked through their individual division sessions and positions have been exchanged, the process moves toward the Negotiated Resolution Plan™, the comprehensive document that captures decisions made on finances and support, and parenting. Read more about that on the Mediation Report page.