When a marriage comes to an end, deciding who gets what can be a difficult task, but it can be done amicably. The assets and debts can be sorted between the both of you, and you could even file for your own divorce with the forms available online. This is what is known as a no contest, or no fault divorce.



Many expensive divorces are due to bitterness. These divorces are a waste of energy and money (your money!), and often can escalate the tensions that drove you to divorce in the first place.

Once you remove the emotional aspect of the divorce, it can make it much more affordable for both parties to negotiate on their own, without an attorney and decide the property division, and file your own legal divorce forms. Many times, attorneys are involved, only to ultimately make you negotiate your own divorce with a middleman, the courts do not require an attorney for the actual divorce.

Based on your possessions which you have both gathered over the years, it can be pretty easy assigning who gets what car, and who should move out of your shared home, as well as who gets which personal items. It's these items which can cause the most heartache. Try and be understanding to your partner's feelings when going through family albums, CDs etc.

If you think they should have something, then give it to them. There is no sense is causing further problems, because you "might" find a use for an item they love.

There are many sites around that can help with this kind of thing, and they also contain legal divorce forms for all 50 states as well as assistance in putting your property divisions into a formal agreement.

Car and property still may have debts against them when you come to divorce. So you both need to decide on who gets the asset, and the debt, or whether an item should be sold and the equity divided between you equally.

Once an agreement on the division of property has been reached, it is time to draw up and complete your legal divorce forms. These are normally state-specific and will need to be filed at your local courthouse.

Courthouse employees will not tell you what to do or how to file, as they cannot give legal advice, but usually there will be instructions online outlining the sequence.

A date will be set, and either one or both of you will need to go before the judge. If he is happy with the agreement you have both outlined, he will sign off, and your divorce will be granted. You'll end up saving a ton of money in legal fees, and you may even remain friends.