Checklist of Issues to Consider During Mediation
Checklist of issues to consider during mediation
1. Division of Assets:
___________ Real estate
___________ Pension/Retirement plans
___________ Stocks, bonds, annuities
___________ Bank accounts
___________ Vehicles (autos, boats etc)
___________ Personal property (furniture, dishes etc)
___________ Business
2. Issues surrounding division of property
Is one party retaining real estate of will it be sold?
Will you need an appraisal of the real estate?
How will you divide the personal property? Does it need to be appraised?
Do the pensions need to be appraised?
What date will you use as cutoff for values of property?
Do you still have joint bank accounts? At what point will you separate your bank account?
What will guide the division of property- a desire to achieve a certain percentage (50/50, 60/40 division etc. or a desire to have each party keep certain assets regardless of ultimate percentage?
Is either party expecting a significant inheritance and is that a factor which you wish to consider in the division of property?
Are there any assets which either of you wish to not consider in the division (for example- inherited assets or assets accrued prior to the marriage or post-separation)
3. Parenting
__________ Legal custody- joint or sole
__________ Physical custody- shared or sole
__________ parenting schedule
__________ holidays
__________ vacations
__________ summer
__________ birthdays
_________ reviews
__________ transportation
__________ removal from commonwealth
__________ communication and exchange of records
4. Support
__________ child support
__________ amount
__________ duration
__________ emancipation provision
__________ extraordinary expenses
__________ college and private school expenses
__________ uninsured medical/dental expenses for children
__________ review of child support
5. Alimony
________ Alimony or waives of alimony
________ If waiver, waiver of past present and future
________ If alimony, duration and amount
________ Tax ramifications of alimony
6. Health insurance
________ Who carries health insurance
________ Family plan or individual
________ Cost of insurance
________ Will insurance be available to ex-spouse post divorce, cost
________ Does other spouse have insurance available, cost
7. Life insurance
________ amount of life insurance
________ term policy- what is term and cost
________ whole life/universal- cash value
________ should life insurance continue post divorce for how long?
________ who owns policy and who is beneficiary post divorce?
8. Taxes
_________ How will taxes this year be filed
_________ Who claims dependency exemptions
_________ Who claims head of household
_________ Any tax liabilities?
9. Liabilities
_________ Liabilities joint or individual
________ Who is responsible for what liabilities
________ Can other spouse be removed as obligor
10. Merger/survival