The division of community property in a Texas divorce is often the hardest part of the process for couples to handle. The more successful the spouses were during the marriage, the more marital or community property they will need to divide.

Certain assets are more likely than others to present challenges during property division, so those with any of the four types of assets below may need to prepare themselves for particularly complicated negotiations or court hearings.

Vacation homes and investment properties

Many couples are able to negotiate an amicable agreement regarding how they will share the value of their marital home. When there’s only one piece of real property to address, it may dominate negotiations without complicating them too much. However, investment properties and vacation homes can prove especially challenging to split. Perhaps one property still requires some work to get it into ideal condition for optimal resale value, or maybe some of the properties have higher perceived long-term retail value than others. The emotional value of a vacation home can also present challenges during property division discussions.

Vehicles

As with real property, vehicles may hold a combination of financial and sentimental value for divorcing spouses. Also, like real property, vehicles may have a secured financial instrument attached to them for which both spouses are technically responsible. Handling vehicles in a divorce often means negotiating to determine their current value and refinancing so that only one spouse is financially responsible for the loan on the vehicle.

Family businesses or franchises

Investing in a business can be a great way for spouses to support their families, but it can also lead to challenges when valuing and dividing that company during a divorce. Everything from the investments made in the startup and uncompensated work performed at the business to the future income projected for the organization will influence how to divide its value in the divorce. Spouses have to address what the business is worth and also who will operate it when they plan their divorce.

Retirement accounts and pensions

The retirement savings people set aside for their golden years can lead to challenges at the end of their marriage. Especially when those savings are only in the name of one spouse, there may be intense disagreements about what would be a fair and appropriate way to share those assets.

Identifying the assets that are most likely to lead to challenges during a divorce may help people better prepare for a sit-down negotiation session or litigation in front of a judge.