Are you faced with the divorce process? If so, you know that matters of property division will require your full attention in the near future.
Generally speaking, the family home is the largest asset that a couple owns together. However, there is something else that can be just as large: retirement assets. This includes but is not limited to the following:
— IRAs
— 401(k)s
— Pensions
— Securities
— Annuities
— Insurance contracts
— Stocks and bonds
All of these retirement assets can bring a variety of challenges to the forefront during a divorce. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that most of these assets are difficult to value. For this reason, it can be a challenge to divide them equitably.
In addition to making note of every retirement asset, it’s important to understand something else: not all of these are necessarily subject to division. For example, you may have an individual retirement account that you brought into the marriage.
Through a variety of strategies, such as mediation, you can work with your former spouse to ensure that you receive the retirement assets to which you are entitled. In the event that you can’t work things out through an alternative dispute resolution, you can fight for your rights in court.
Divorce is difficult for a variety of reasons. However, you don’t want to make rash decisions just to put the process in the past. If you do, you could find yourself missing out on receiving retirement assets that will improve your financial life in the future.
