Home is where the heart is, right? After all, the place you call home offers comfort and security, and the passing of years only makes it more special, regardless of whatever life throws at you.

And yet for many people, there comes a time when they decide to downsize to a smaller living space. This isn’t always an easy decision. In fact, it can be stressful or depressing. But it can also be a joyful process. The key is recognizing the right time to downsize.

You’ve come to the right place for advice about when and how to downsize your home. Keep reading to get the inside scoop.

Loss of a Job

The loss of employment can be an extremely stressful experience. After all, getting laid off is typically unexpected and can make maintaining your current lifestyle impossible.

A major change in employment is one of the events in life that pushes many people to seek a smaller home that won’t be such a burden. Even if money isn’t tight, the experience of losing your job can open your eyes to the fact that every dollar matters, and it’s time to move into a smaller house or apartment that will help stretch your income as far as possible.  

Keep in mind that it can be a mistake to try to hold onto a large home for emotional reasons. Downsizing will save you money and provide peace of mind so that you can sleep at night.

Reduced Income

You might not lose your job, but you might be put in a position to take a lower-paying position. This might even be a positive. Many people choose to take a lower-paying job they love rather than stay in a higher-paying job where they’re miserable. 

These are the life-choices that force people to reconsider the cost of their lifestyle. That big house and fancy cars that you love so much come with a hefty price tag. Perhaps you hate your current career but need a big salary to pay for all your cool toys. This is the perfect time to reassess your priorities.   

Downsizing doesn’t have to feel like a failure. Thus it’s important to resist the impulse of basing your self-worth on the things you own because then they actually own you instead. Once you make the move to choose happiness over stuff, you’ll discover that less truly is more.

Shift to Minimalist Lifestyle

In recent years, more and more people have discovered the joy of simplifying their lives. This is known as adopting a minimalist lifestyle.

Becoming a minimalist has nothing to do with what you can or can’t afford. And it has nothing to do with your income. It means that you’ve realized that life is about far more than material possessions, trying to impress those around you, or trying to keep up with everything society says you need to own to be happy.

Why do you feel the need to buy so much stuff? Because all that stuff will get old, start to fall apart, or you’ll eventually forget you even own it. Half the fun was just the excitement of the purchase anyway, right? So why not try getting rid of all the clutter you’ve collected over the years, moving into a smaller living environment, and learn to enjoy living your life rather than wasting money on more junk you don’t really want or need?

Retirement

Another time to seriously consider downsizing your home is when you’re ready to buckle down and start preparing for retirement. After all, you’ll want to have the freedom to enjoy your retirement years without stressing about money.

Plus, you’ll want to travel, spend time with family, and do all the things you’ve put off during your working years. 

Keep in mind that retirement is expensive. Thus you’ll want to sock away every penny you can so that you can enjoy the financial stability that comes with healthy investments and decades of savings. 

When Kids Leave Home

It’s no secret that raising a family is expensive and requires a certain amount of living space. But once the kids leave the nest, most parents no longer have the need for so much room. This is a good time to downsize and use the savings to invest in your retirement plan.

Moving to a More Expensive Area

Or perhaps you’re in the process of relocating. This can be an expensive experience, especially if you move to another part of the country where the cost of living is far more substantial. 

You might have become accustomed to living in a big house where you came from, but moving to an expensive city might require reducing expenses, such as buying a smaller house that won’t be such a burden. This is especially important if your income or will remain unchanged once you’ve settled into your new life.

A Desire to Reduce Expenses

Other people are looking for ways to cut the cost of living as much as possible. Because while you may love your big, roomy house, all that extra space can be painful to pay for. After all, you have to heat all that extra space in the winter and cool it during the summer months.

If you don’t expect an increase in your family income any time soon, moving to a smaller house can be the ideal way to save money without having to make sacrifices in other areas.

To Pay Off Debts

Let’s be honest, debt is exhausting. Because while some debt is necessary and healthy, things like credit card debt and expensive student loans can become a huge burden.

Moving to a smaller home enables you to pay down your debt more quickly, or eliminate it altogether. The key is to lower your house payments and use the equity from the sale of your old house to get rid of annoying and costly debt as soon as possible. 

To Finance a Vacation Home Or a Rental Property

Have you been thinking about buying a vacation home or investing in a timeshare property? These are exciting options that are also very expensive. This is especially true if you still have a mortgage on your current home.

That’s why you should seriously consider selling your house for cash in order to free up financial resources to invest in a second property. This could even be a situation where you invest in a rental property for generating additional income.

To Reduce Environmental Impact

For other homeowners, downsizing is a way to reduce their footprint on the planet. After all, environmental issues are more important than ever before. The more you can do to help save the environment, the longer our natural resources will be available for future generations to enjoy.

Downsizing gives you the opportunity to build a smaller home using environmentally-friendly materials, take advantage of solar energy, and produce less waste.

Use Your Home Equity for Other Investments

Do you have equity in your current home? If so, downsizing gives you the freedom to invest that equity for other investments, including your retirement fund, commercial properties, business opportunities, and the ability to invest more than you might have in the past.

Home equity is a resource that many people fail to take advantage of, and yet this is a great time to make your hard-earned money start working for you rather than sitting in a bank.

The Desire to Travel

Let’s face it, most people don’t travel the world nearly as much as they would like. This is mostly due to the restraints of time and money. So just imagine having the financial freedom to travel anywhere you want without feeling the stress of how to pay for it.

This is yet another major benefit of downsizing from a big expensive house to a more affordable one. Plus you’ll probably discover that you don’t miss all the extra space anyway. And now you’ll be able to indulge in the type of vacation experiences you’ve always dreamed of now and make memories that will last a lifetime. 

Pay for Children’s Education

Did we mention that having children is expensive? Well, it’s true. Especially when they want a higher education. Given the high price of most good universities, downsizing your home might be the ideal way to finance their education without breaking the bank.

An Effort to Enjoy a Simpler Lifestyle

It’s also nice to enjoy living your life without worrying about how to pay for it. After all, there truly is something to be said about the luxury of having peace of mind. This is something that more and more people are realizing, and downsizing is one of the more efficient ways to simplify without sacrificing other small luxuries.

Sell Your House Fast When It’s Time to Downsize to a Smaller Home

Life can be expensive. Knowing when it’s time to downsize your home can help reduce stress without cutting into the overall quality of your lifestyle.

Please submit your address and create a seller account to get a cash offer for your home.

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Over the past year, the real estate market has been in flux as Americans grapple with the changing economy and other life-affecting factors. What will become of the real estate market over the course of 2021?

Experts are predicting that while sales will slowly rise, so will housing prices and mortgage rates. This may be a market that works well for luxury housing and high-income families, but will everyone find it a hospitable market to buy or sell a home?

As always, sellers want to know: how long does it take to sell a house? The reality is that because there are so many circumstances that affect the sale of a house, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

That being said, we’re going to take a look at what those circumstances are so that you can make a reasonable assessment on how long selling a house will take for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know.

How Long Do Most Houses Take to Sell?

Establishing an average for home sales can be difficult. For example, the National Association of Realtors noted that it took the typical home three weeks on the market before a buyer jumped on the opportunity. However, even this statistic raises questions.

For starters, what is NAR considering a typical home? Average square footage, number of rooms, amenities, and even style will vary widely from region to region. 

In addition, this three week period marks the time from the moment the house was listed until a buyer entered into a contract to purchase it. It doesn’t include the amount of time the buyer spent seeking mortgage approval, negotiating over price or renovations, and more. 

The reality is that even if your property listing is only up for a week or two, it can take months before you walk away with money in hand.  

How Do You Plan on Selling Your House?

One reason that it can be so difficult to determine how long it takes to sell a house on average is that there are many different ways that you can go about selling your house. Let’s take a look at a few of the options that are available to you, as well as their pros and cons.

The Traditional Market and Sales Tactics

Oftentimes, when people ask, “How long should it take to sell a house?” they’re thinking about the traditional market and sales tactics. What does that mean?

A traditional way to sell your house is to prepare it first, making cost-effective repairs and renovations in order to maximize the value. Then, you might hire a real estate agent who can market it online and in-person, hosting open houses and entering into discussions with a variety of potential buyers. 

If you’re looking to turn a significant profit, this is often the way to go. However, turning the biggest profit possible almost always requires upfront investments. Plus, you may find that it’s harder to find a buyer who will pay the price you’re asking for.

Selling As-Is

You can also sell your house as-is, which simply means that you aren’t going to make any changes to the property before listing it. It is possible to sell a house as-is on the traditional market, although you’ll find your pool of interested buyers is on the narrow side. Plus, while you won’t have to make those upfront investments, you will need to accept a lower asking price.

In fact, some buyers won’t just expect a lower price in relation to any necessary repairs or renovations. When buyers purchase as-is homes on the traditional market, they may also expect you to lower the price to reflect the inconvenience of buying a home that may not be move-in ready.

For Sale By Owner

When we talk about properties that are for sale by owner, we’re referring to situations where the owner takes care of all marketing, communications, and negotiations without the help of a third party. You can tackle the sale without an agent whether you are making cost-effective changes to your property or selling it as-is.

Some sellers don’t have any issue going this route, but it should be noted that this method is often the one that takes the longest. Why? Agents and other third parties understand the market and how to reach interested buyers, whereas someone outside of real estate may find that the process comes with a steep learning curve.

What Can Impact Your Selling Timeline?

Regardless of how you choose to sell, there are a variety of factors that can still impact your selling time. What are they and how do they apply to you? Let’s take a look.

The State of the Real Estate Market

Earlier, we mentioned that the real estate market is expected to slowly pick up. What, exactly, does this mean?

The real estate market goes through highs and lows in terms of sales, prices, and mortgage rates. We also talk about the real estate market in the context of buyer’s markets and seller’s markets.

In a seller’s market, demand exceeds supply. That means that buyers are in competition with one another to find housing and sellers are often able to ask for a higher price and get their house off of the market quickly. Because mortgage rates were at a record low in 2020, some regions entered into a strong seller’s market as more and more people found that they could afford a larger mortgage than normal. 

The flip side is that buyer’s markets also exist, and they often follow seller’s markets. Ultimately, in a buyer’s market, supply exceeds demand, making it harder for sellers to find a buyer and get a larger price for their property. 

The Economy

The economy and the real estate market go hand in hand, but it’s still worth discussing them separately, especially when economic conditions can vary from region to region.

In order to have home purchasing power, buyers generally need to be making enough money to build up a substantial savings account. While predictions show that the unemployment rate should fall steadily in 2021, we are coming off of a year marked by financial setbacks for many Americans. This could mean that many of the people who were considering buying a home in the near future may have to wait a few more years in order to do so.

The Region Your Selling In

Where you live can make a huge difference to your selling time. The demand for housing tends to be highest in high-population areas with plenty of job opportunities. In other words, it may take less time to sell your home in an urban or metropolitan area than a rural area.

The Condition of Your Property

As we mentioned earlier, it can be harder to find a buyer when you’re selling a home that needs a lot of work. Although you’re asking less money for an as-is property, buyers recognize that they’ll still need hundreds or thousands of dollars to get the property in shape.

On the other end of the spectrum, you may find that selling a luxury property isn’t always easy, either, as the pool of buyers for luxury properties is similarly small.

Negotiations With Your Buyer

Negotiations can eat up quite a bit of time, especially if you and your buyer can’t reach an agreement. Some buyers may consider the property lower in value than you do. Others may want you to take on a few more renovations before they agree to close the sale. 

Most of the time, negotiations are reasonable and easy to navigate. However, this isn’t always the case.

When’s the Best Time to Sell a House?

How long does it take for a house to sell in summer versus winter? Is spring better than fall? Many sellers want to know the best time to put their property up for sale.

It’s not uncommon to find more interested buyers in the spring and summer. Summer is often a transitional time for people, and many families across the country aim to move into a new home before the fall season sets in.

As a result, you’re more likely to enter into a seller’s market in the spring or summer than in the fall or winter. The more interested buyers you can appeal to, the better.

However, it’s worth noting that things aren’t always so simple. Why? You may find that a lot more sellers are looking to relocate during the summer months, too, leading to a flood of houses for sale (and a potential buyer’s market).

Top Tips For a Fast Sale

As you can see, selling a house quickly can get a little bit complicated. There’s no exact formula to the process, and even promising listings can sit on the market for months. Let’s talk about a few ways that you can speed up the process and sell your house fast.

Know Your Market

Make sure that you know your market well. How does your home compare to others in your region? How much are those properties selling for and is it fair to say that your property is worth the same amount?

The closer you can get to a reasonable asking price, the less likely it is that you’ll scare away buyers who feel like they can find a better deal.

Stay Open to Negotiations

We talked briefly about negotiations and the effect they can have on sales times. If you’re working with a buyer who wants to negotiate and you don’t want things to drag out, go with what they want. You may not get the same price you were hoping for, but if selling quickly is your biggest priority, it may be worth it.

How Long Does It Take to Sell Your House Online?

What’s the absolute fastest and easiest way to sell your home? Let us match you with an iBuyer.

To get started, we ask you to tell us about your property. We can then provide you with a property valuation in as little as 24 hours.

Once we’re happy with a property valuation, we can start seeking out the best iBuyer for your needs. You never have to work with a real estate agent, host a showing, or enter into a drawn-out negotiation process. 

In a matter of weeks or even days, we’ll match you with one of our trusted iBuyers or investors who can provide an instant offer and a seamless closing deal. 

The best part? You can sell your house as-is without worrying about buyers who want compensation for their time and effort. iBuyers are fully prepared to handle all renovations on their own and never ask sellers to change a thing before closing.

If you want to get a fair price and sell your house fast without worrying about all of the factors we’ve discussed in this guide, letting us find your perfect iBuyer is the way to go.

Know Before You List: How Long Does It Take to Sell a House?

Before you decide when and how to sell your house, it’s a good idea to ask, how long does it take to sell a house? For some sellers, leaving the process up to all of the chances that come with traditional sales simply isn’t an option.

If you’re ready to sell your house the fastest and easiest way possible, we’re here to help. To get started, head to our free iValuation tool and find out how much your house is currently worth. 

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It may surprise you to know that 52.5% of men and women 65 years of age and older will require long term care at some point. They may seek in-home help or move into a facility.

You may wonder, what is a long term care facility? Are they retirement homes? Who moves into them?

It’s important to know about the different types of long term care facilities. When the time comes, you’ll likely have to sell your home to move into one. So it’s necessary to understand how to pay for this type of care, too. 

Keep reading for everything you need to know about long term health care facilities. You’ll discover the different types, the services they provide, and how much they cost.

What Is a Long Term Care Facility and Who Needs One?

“Long term care” might make you think of nursing homes, retirement communities, and convalescent homes. Are they all the same thing? 

In a sense, long term care facilities offer exactly what their name suggests. They offer care over an extended period of time.

But there are different types of long term care facilities. The differences lie primarily with the residents who need them.  

Anyone struggling to live independently could qualify to take part in long-term care. Places like assisted living facilities are often considered reserved for the elderly. But that’s not always the case. 

Someone recovering from an illness or injury may need to stay in a convalescent home. Unlike long term care, these homes are for the short term.

Younger and older people with mental or physical disabilities could require daily assistance. Long term care facilities help them get through each day safely and successfully. 

Types of Long-Term Care Facilities

There is a range of facilities that offer long-term care. The services they provide differ significantly depending on the independence of their residents. Below are three of the most common examples.

Independent Living

Independent living communities are also known as retirement communities or retirement villages. They are places for people aged 55+ to live in a separate community with others their age. Typically, these individuals can still take care of themselves without extra help.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are a type of independent living facility. But they support levels of care from minimal to skilled nursing. 

Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities offer daily care and supervision. Typically, their residents are individuals who need help with their day-to-day tasks. These individuals usually do not need daily medical attention.

Nursing Homes 

There’s a difference between assisted living and nursing facilities. Nursing homes, also known as skilled nursing facilities, offer greater medical assistance. And residents require more than simply remembering to take their medication. 

Each individual gets help with daily tasks as they would in an assisted living facility. But they also have access to nurses and physicians who are always on-site and ready to provide care.

What Do Long-Term Care Facilities Provide?

Long-term care facilities provide a number of services. It mostly depends on the type of facility and the requirements of its residents. When you know what you or your loved one needs you can determine whether a long term care home is your best option.

Assistance With Daily Tasks

Daily tasks include bathing and dressing, preparing meals, or taking medication. It may even include home maintenance.

These are any tasks repeated daily or weekly. When they become difficult or unmanageable, it’s time to consider long term care. 

By living in a long term care facility, you or your loved one will have access to around-the-clock help. Assisted living specialists will ease the burden of tasks that have become overwhelming.

Access to Healthcare

Another key service that long-term care facilities provide is access to healthcare. This is particularly true of nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. 

In these homes, residents can be under 24-hour supervision. They receive help bathing, dressing, eating, and taking their medication. They also receive regular check-ups and medical treatments as necessary. 

If you or your loved one needs medical attention, consider a facility with doctors, nurses, and physical therapists.

Community and Recreation

Long-term facilities offer more than just daily care. Typically, they also provide outlets for creativity and recreation.

Independent living communities often have the most options. These communities offer their residents social events, eateries, sports, and other activities to take part in.

But even assisted living and nursing homes offer activities for their residents. Anything from dance parties to arts and crafts nights may be part of their regular rhythm. 

When to Start Thinking About Long-Term Care

So when should you start thinking about long-term care? Ideally, the sooner the better. 

You shouldn’t wait until you need long term care to think about it. Start saving for long term care insurance as soon as you can. This will help you secure a better premium and put away more money over time. 

If you’re able to contribute to a plan in your 30s or 40s, you’ll set yourself up for success. Make sure to consider the type of care you may need.

Another consideration to make is that you will likely have to sell your home before moving into long term care. This can be a great help in covering the costs. Know how to increase your home’s value before you sell.  

Many Americans might require only a few years of care in their lifetime. But you want to be prepared for the most expensive possibility. You or your spouse may need ongoing long term care. 

When to Transition Into Long Term Care

You’ve gotten a headstart with a great insurance plan. You’ve been putting away money for a while now. How do you know when it’s time to transition into long term care?

You may find that you’re relying on your spouse or children more and more. They have to help you get dressed or make sure you’re eating enough. You find it’s getting impossible to clean yourself like you need to. 

These are hard realizations to make. And it’s an even harder decision to move into long term care. But your spouse or your children may not be equipped to give you the help you need. 

Caring for a loved one who needs round-the-clock help takes a lot out of family members. They want to be able to care for their loved ones. At the same time, they’re struggling with watching their abilities deteriorate. 

Simply put, when you are no longer able to care for yourself, it’s likely time to transition into long term care.

How Much Does a Long-Term Care Facility Cost?

The costs of long term care can be staggering. Five-figure yearly costs are not uncommon. More expensive facilities may cost upwards of $60,000 a year.

These costs cover most of the same expenses you’d be paying at home. Think operational costs like electricity and water as well as food and medical care. Other fees may go toward the physicians or even the activities offered to the community.

It can be tempting to only save for the cheapest option but consider where you’d like to live. Do you want to opt for comfort in your final years? Or skimp on excess and live more simply? 

For seniors who no longer have a stable income, the costs can overwhelm them and their families. 

That’s why saving ahead of time is so important. Speak to your family and your financial advisors. Determine what insurance plans are right for you.

How to Afford Long-Term Care

You know to look into long term care insurance as soon as you can. Think of it as part of your retirement savings. The earlier you start, the more you’ll have to live on. 

You can also invest in regular stocks and bonds. Over time, your investments may yield returns that you can use for your long term care. Speak with an investment advisor to see if you can put some of your dividends towards long term care.

Consider speaking with your kids as well. They may be willing to move you into their basement suite with an in-home care worker. That could be a more affordable option when the time comes.

Online homebuyers can even give you a cash offer for your house so you can put that money toward long term care. Remember that you can put the money you make from the sale of your home toward your long term care.

Consider Long Term Care Before You Need It

What is a long term care facility? Now you know that there are several types. Each type provides a different service to meet a variety of needs.

Start thinking about long term care before you need it. Begin saving as early as you can and consider all your options. 

Learn more about getting a cash offer for your house to help you pay for long term care.

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You’ve decided you want to get a divorce, and you are not alone. According to the CDC, there were 782,038 divorces during 2018 in the United States, and only 45 states plus Washington D.C. submitted data. 

You don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on attorney fees, and have heard there is something called “do-it-yourself divorce.” Now you are wondering what it is, how much it costs, and what steps you need to take to complete the process. Read on for the down and dirty do-it-yourself divorce.

What is Do-It-Yourself Divorce?

With a do-it-yourself divorce, you eliminate the attorney and handle all paperwork, filing, and hearings on your own. If your divorce is contested it is imperative you seek the advice of an attorney as the process is complicated.

A non-contested do-it-yourself divorce is easy if you have only been married a short time, have no assets, or are having an amicable divorce. The process is possible with more lengthy marriages, but the greater number of assets the more chance there are for disputes and complications to arise.

We will elaborate below, but the process in a nut-shell is:

• Pick up and complete necessary divorce forms (officially called pleadings).
• Following the court rules for your location, file the paperwork and pay the filing fees at your courthouse.
• Serve the divorce papers on your spouse—make sure you follow court rules on this step
• File proof of service with the court
• Your spouse has a specific time period to respond to your complaint about divorce, generally around twenty-one (21) days
• The court will set hearings at appropriate times to meet court requirements for divorce
• After the divorce is granted you need to prepare and file a Divorce Decree or Judgment of Divorce

Once the judge signs the judgment the divorce is final.

How Much Is A Do-It-Yourself Divorce?

The average cost for a divorce in the United States is $15,000. When you do a divorce on your own it is less costly, but you will incur some costs.

When you file the divorce complaint you will need to pay the court a filing fee. This varies from court to court and may be higher if you have minor children. The average filing fee in the United States is $300.00.

The national average for a process server is $45 to $75. The fee is higher if they have to make several trips to complete the service.  This is how you have the divorce papers filed on your spouse. Alternatively, you can serve the papers on your spouse yourself and have them sign a proof of service that they have accepted service.

If the court requires you to participate in mediation, which may be a requirement when there are minor children, the average fee is $100 to $200 per hour. Parent education classes range from $85 to $350 and are a requirement of some courts.

There may be an additional fee for entry of the divorce decree. Some courts include this in their filing fee and some require payment at the time you submit it to the court.

Once you file the divorce your state may issue court orders that prevent either party from making changes to any insurance policies, selling or transferring property, transferring or removing large amounts of money, closing or making changes to any financial accounts including credit cards, bank accounts, loans, and doing anything that substantially increases the debt of the parties.

Necessary Do-It-Yourself Divorce Papers

Check with your local court clerk’s office to see where you can obtain do-it-yourself divorce forms. The court may have forms available online, at the local library, or at the courthouse.

The basic forms include:

• Dissolution of Marriage Petition
• Response to Petition
• Child Support Worksheet
• Parenting Plan
• Proof of Service
• Consent/Default Decree

Make sure you obtain all forms necessary for couples with minor children.

Follow the Law and Necessary Steps

Every state has laws that affect the divorce process. There are basic requirements in every state, watch them carefully.

Residency

Every state has residency laws that must be met prior to filing for divorce. This varies from state to state. For instance, in the states of Washington, Alaska, and South Dakota there is no set period of time you must reside in the state prior to filing for Divorce.

The majority of states require you to reside in the state six (6) months prior to filing for divorce. Several have a one year period, including Rhode Island and South Carolina.

It is important before completing and filing the paperwork that you check your particular state’s regulations so you do not waste money filing only to have the case dismissed due to a residency violation.

Fault or No-Fault Divorce

Some states require a plaintiff/petitioner to provide a reason for seeking a divorce. This is an at-fault state. Reasons may include domestic violence, drug addiction, alcoholism, adultery, or other reasons the other party is “at fault” for the marriage failure.

In no-fault states, no reason needs to be given for wanting a divorce. When writing your complaint for divorce you will need to state that there are irreconcilable differences. Each state has specific wording to use for this, and on do-it-yourself divorce papers, this will be on the form.

If you wish to provide a reason for the divorce, even in a no-fault state this is acceptable. This is valuable information if the reason supports your requests regarding custody, parenting time, or division of debts and property.

File Complaint for Divorce

If you meet the residency requirements, complete the divorce paperwork and file your divorce. In a do-it-yourself divorce, the court will have forms you complete, making the process easy. Fill in all information, including addresses for you and your spouse, date of marriage, date of separation, and if there are children questions regarding custody and parenting time.

You may prepare a typed and more detailed complaint following the court’s requirements for pleadings. The majority of do-it-yourself filers use the forms for simplification and to make sure they do not miss any requirements.

Answer or Be in Default

If you receive service of a complaint for divorce from your spouse, you only have a specific amount of time to answer those pleadings in writing. Your answer must be filed with the court. You must also provide a copy to your spouse and file a proof of service with the court.

If you do not answer the complaint within the time period, you will be found in default. This means your spouse “wins” the divorce and you will not have any input. The complainant/petitioner will need to file a default request with the court and serve notice of the default on their spouse.

Child Custody, Parenting Time, and Support

If there are minor children you will have additional forms and special hearings that pertain to the minor children. This includes establishing an agreement that sets forth living arrangements for the minor children. You also need to establish parenting time for the parent who does not have primary custody.

Physical custody means that a parent has custody of the child, they live in their home and attend schools in the district where they reside. This is the child’s primary residence.

Legal custody means the ability to make legal decisions about the child, including place of worship, the school they attend, non-emergency medical treatment, extracurricular activities, and more.

Joint Custody means both parents share custody equally. With joint physical custody, the child may live part of a week with one parent and part of a week with another parent. The rotation may also be done one week on, one week off, or whatever schedule is reasonable for the child.

With joint legal custody, each parent has equal input into all decisions that pertain to the care and maintenance of the child.

Each state uses a formula that takes into account each person’s wages and/or ability to earn, whether they have insurance for the child, and the number of overnights the child is with them. The Friend of the Court will determine what is a reasonable amount of child support and medical expenses and which parent should pay.

You and your spouse may come to an agreement regarding child support. The court may or may not accept that agreement. Due to income variances, having the child in your physical custody does guarantee you will be the recipient of child support.

The decisions regarding custody, parenting time, and support are always in the best interests of the child.

Division of Property

In general, divorce in any state requires a fair and equitable division of property. The judge does not have to accept the division you and your husband make if they believe the settlement unreasonably favors one party.

When dividing property, each person receives family heirlooms, personal items, awards from lawsuits, and possessions they had prior to the marriage. The exception is if these items have been commingled with marital assets.

Retirement accounts, including pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s, and investments are normally equalized so that each party has an equal amount, even if the majority of these accounts are only in one person’s name. The equalization of these funds may require having a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) for this purpose.

The easy way to divide property is for each spouse to take items they desire from the home. If there are items both parties want, then set those aside. You may then flip a coin with each party taking turns selecting an item from this group until all items have been divided.

What Happens To The House During Divorce

The marital home is usually the largest asset the parties have to divide. What happens with the home will vary depending on each couple’s circumstances. During the process of divorce, you will need to have an appraisal or home valuation for the court.

The home valuation provides the court with verification that an equitable division of all property is made. If one party has the ability to buy-out their spouse, they may do so. If neither party is able to buy-out the other or financially manage the home on their sole income, the home will need to be sold.

You and your spouse will need to work together on the listing and sale of the home, including the selection of a realtor. You will want to make sure that you use a reputable firm that will work quickly to get the home sold and proceeds in your hand as quickly as possible.

Prepare Judgement of Divorce

When you have a do-it-yourself divorce there is usually a form that serves as the final divorce decree or judgment of divorce. This specifies the division of property and any other requirements. The problem with this form is it lacks personalization.

You may want to consider preparing a judgment from scratch. This allows greater detail to be put into the order. If you chose to take this route, make sure you follow all legal requirements for the creation of this order.

Place the Findings Upon the Record

When you have met all waiting periods and have a settlement you will need to appear in court to place the findings upon the record. This is a hearing in which the judge will ask you specific questions about the settlement.

If the judge is satisfied that an equitable settlement has been made, they will grant the divorce. They may sign the final divorce decree at that time, or they may sign it at a later date. Once the judge signs the judgment your divorce is final.

How To Sell A House During Divorce

There were 534 million existing homes plus an additional 682,000 newly constructed homes sold during 2019 according to the National Association of Realtors. There are a lot of things going on during a divorce, and the last thing you need on your plate is trying to juggle is real estate showings, inspections, and more. This can take months and you need the money now.

The easiest way to get this done is through the use of iBuyer.com. This service allows you to sell your house without the use of a real estate agent. There are no property appraisals, open houses, or showings. The real bonus is you can sell your home and have cash in your hands within 24 hours.

When you sell your home with iBuyer.com, you will answer questions regarding your property. While every home will sell, the most popular homes fall into the following categories:

• Built after a specific year (newer homes are more attractive)
• The home is in good condition needing few to no repairs
• Location is desirable and popular with high demand
• An automated valuation model (AVM) value of $200,000 to $500,000

If your home falls into the above criteria it is likely to receive several offers. Do not be discouraged if your home does not meet the above criteria. Buyers exist for every home and the only way to sell it fast is to do it with iBuyer.com.

There is no obligation to sell and no fee, so during the stressful time of a divorce, this is an excellent option for putting cash into your hands. Check today to see if there are iBuyers in your city.

Start the Process Now

Now that you know the steps for a do-it-yourself divorce, do not hesitate to submit your address to start the process of selling your house. Divorce can be a difficult choice to make, but the benefit of completing the task and living the life you choose is an emotional plus.

The post A Complete Guide to Do-it-Yourself Divorce appeared first on iBuyer Blog.

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