The House Matters in Divorce: Untangling the Legal, Financial and Emotional Ties Before You Sign on the Dotted Line - Softcover

Starks, Laurel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1936268450 ISBN 13: 9781936268450

Publisher: Unhooked Books, 2016

Synopsis

In divorce, deciding what to do with the house can become a source of strife, confusion, and financial ruin. Most are unprepared for the legal and financial ramifications about keeping or selling their home their most important financial asset.

Divorce is stressful enough by itself. In the midst of other traumas, many divorcing people discover that they aren’t just married to a spouse they’re also tied to their home and a mortgage, too. Their most financially and emotionally important asset can become a source of strife, confusion, anxiety and all too often, financial ruin.

As they discover, it’s not enough to divorce their former partner; they must divorce the house a treacherous process, fraught with risks and unexpected challenges. Navigating it successfully requires expert help and the kind of practical information provided in this book. Few people fully understand the complexities of real estate transactions, let alone their long-term ramifications. These matters take on even greater weight when they occur in the context of a wrenching, perhaps acrimonious breakup.

The House Matters in Divorceis a comprehensive guide written by an expert in divorce real estate that addresses all these issues, from the emotional impact to the dollars-and-cents details. It provides a framework of knowledge that will empower divorcing spouses to emerge financially sound and prepared for the future.

The result is a well-rounded view of what divorcing partners can expect, and concrete advice on how to manage the process.

Laurel Starks lives with her husband and two boys in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

About this title

Review:

"As a retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge and family law mediator, who has handled literally hundreds of cases involving the sale of the family residence, I know that next to custodial issues with children, no other issue in divorce is fraught with as much tension, misunderstanding, and anger as the sale of the family residence. This book is a must read for all attorneys handling family home sales and should be given to all family law litigants."
—Hon. Martha E. Bellinger, judge retired, author of From Robe to Robe

“Laurel Starks has written an informative book on a subject that often gets ignored—until it hits hard: selling the family home in a divorce. In her book The House Matters in Divorce, she does a complete walk-through of the unique issues involved in selling a house at one of the worst times in a person’s life, including: whether to sell, how to deal with the kids, the mortgage, a high-conflict divorce, the proceeds of sale (if any), on up to what a judge might do in court. Yet she recognizes the emotional elements and adds a lot of personal encouraging comments. It’s also sprinkled with dozens of examples from her wide experience with many upset couples as a real estate agent specializing in divorce home sales. This book has been needed for quite a while. It will fill a gap for spouses who feel overwhelmed and in need of clear and simple advice from an expert who understands.”
—Bill Eddy, attorney, therapist, and mediator; author of Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder

“The first book of its kind, written by an industry pioneer, The House Matters in Divorce not only helps couples facing divorce, but Laurel also gives valuable insight for real estate professionals who work in these sensitive situations.”
—Ben Kinney, CEO, ActiveRain; Wall Street Journal Top 100 Realtors; author of Soci@l; Inman News “Innovator of the Year” 2014

“This book is a must read for anyone facing divorce and professionals who represent them. Laurel Starks has done her homework and has unprecedented experience in the field of divorce real estate. The House Matters in Divorce provides great insight into family dynamics, and unlike any other book I have seen, it addresses a deeply fundamental issue: the children’s concerns when leaving their home as a result of a divorce. The practical advice in these pages is invaluable.”
—Ann Bingham-Newman, PhD, child psychologist, professor emeritus, California State University–Los Angeles


"As a retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge and family law mediator, who has handled literally hundreds of cases involving the sale of the family residence, I know that next to custodial issues with children, no other issue in divorce is fraught with as much tension, misunderstanding, and anger as the sale of the family residence. This book is a must read for all attorneys handling family home sales and should be given to all family law litigants."
—Hon. Martha E. Bellinger, judge retired, author of From Robe to Robe

“Laurel Starks has written an informative book on a subject that often gets ignored—until it hits hard: selling the family home in a divorce. In her book The House Matters in Divorce, she does a complete walk-through of the unique issues involved in selling a house at one of the worst times in a person’s life, including: whether to sell, how to deal with the kids, the mortgage, a high-conflict divorce, the proceeds of sale (if any), on up to what a judge might do in court. Yet she recognizes the emotional elements and adds a lot of personal encouraging comments. It’s also sprinkled with dozens of examples from her wide experience with many upset couples as a real estate agent specializing in divorce home sales. This book has been needed for quite a while. It will fill a gap for spouses who feel overwhelmed and in need of clear and simple advice from an expert who understands.”
—Bill Eddy, attorney, therapist, and mediator; author of Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder

“The first book of its kind, written by an industry pioneer, The House Matters in Divorce not only helps couples facing divorce, but Laurel also gives valuable insight for real estate professionals who work in these sensitive situations.”
—Ben Kinney, CEO, ActiveRain; Wall Street Journal Top 100 Realtors; author of Soci@l; Inman News “Innovator of the Year” 2014

“This book is a must read for anyone facing divorce and professionals who represent them. Laurel Starks has done her homework and has unprecedented experience in the field of divorce real estate. The House Matters in Divorce provides great insight into family dynamics, and unlike any other book I have seen, it addresses a deeply fundamental issue: the children’s concerns when leaving their home as a result of a divorce. The practical advice in these pages is invaluable.”
—Ann Bingham-Newman, PhD, child psychologist, professor emeritus, California State University–Los Angeles

From the Back Cover:

In divorce, deciding what to do with the house can become a huge source of strife, confusion, and even financial ruin. Most are unprepared for the unique legal, financial, and emotional ramifications of either holding on to or selling their house at one of the worst times in their life.

The House Matters in Divorce presents the numerous legal, emotional, and practical challenges of equitably settling your marital home―and offers specifics on how to handle those issues and who to turn to for professional help. This book clears up common misconceptions about dividing real estate assets and empowers both parties to be proactive, make smart decisions, and emerge from this complex process financially sound and prepared for the future. It includes detailed information on:

Whether to sell or not
Common pitfalls that plague the uninformed
How to determine what the house is really worth
Making housing decisions that are truly in your children’s best interests
What to do about the deed and the mortgage if one spouse stays in the home
Proceeds of the sale (if any) and what to do if there is no equity
The court’s perspective and power

Learn how best to deal with your most important financial asset―your home―from a real estate expert who specialize in divorce. Get the facts about how to make wise and purposeful choices to set yourself up for success as you move forward with building a new life―a life that includes financial health.

About this edition

• Publisher: Unhooked Books
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1936268450
• ISBN 13: 9781936268450
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 131