Just as no two marriages are ever alike, so it goes with divorce. While reality television shows would have us believe that every divorce is embittered and nasty, in the reality version of reality there are many Massachusetts couples who end their marriages amicably. However, when it comes to the process of disentangling lives and finances, there can be such a thing as being ‘too nice,’ especially during the property division portion of the experience. Some spouses feel guilty about ending their marriage, especially if the other spouse is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Other times, there have been lapses of judgment that lead one party to carry feelings of guilt. When considering how to end a marriage, the best course of action is to look at the process as a business transaction, leaving emotions completely out of the matter. For spouses who are considering filing for divorce without an attorney, it is important to understand what is at stake. The decisions made throughout the divorce process can have lasting effects, especially financial issues handled during the property division portion of a divorce. Having solid legal counsel is not an aggressive stance against one’s former partner, it is simply an acknowledgment that divorce is a complicated legal matter that requires a comprehensive understanding of Massachusetts law. When preparing to divorce, the best approach to take is to make every effort to protect one’s legal interests, and assume that one’s partner is going to do the same.

Times have changed, in Massachusetts and across the nation, and the days in which men were the breadwinners and women were the house makers are long gone. While there are still some households that adhere to this once-standard social norm, many others are comprised of two working spouses. In some cases, women bring in the bulk of the household’s income. For such women who face divorce and the inevitable property division process, there are a number of considerations that come into play. Divorce involves the division of marital assets, which can become complicated in some families. As with any financial matter, the best approach lies in proper planning. To that end, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements are one of the best ways to protect assets in the event of a divorce. Another savvy financial move is to maintain any inheritance money or assets separately from marital funds. Keep such assets within the name of the receiving party, and do not use inheritance funds to pay for jointly held debt. Another issue concerns business interest. For women who own their own business, much of the hard work and effort put into making that business profitable can be lost through divorce. There are ways to safeguard against these types of losses, including the use of trusts or other legal agreements. These avenues should be explored before the need arises to protect one’s business during a divorce proceeding. For women who have achieved a high level of success in the workplace, the best way