Selling a House During a Divorce in Littleton

You did not plan on this, and the house is probably the largest single thing you have to sort out.

My job here is narrow and neutral: give both of you the same information, at the same time, so the house does not become another thing to fight about.

Both spouses on title have to sign

If both names are on the deed, both signatures are required on the listing agreement, on any price change, and on the closing documents. There is no workaround, and discovering it at closing is a bad day. We confirm title early.

The court may be directing the sale

If your decree or a court order specifies a listing price, a timeline, how proceeds get split, or who handles what, that document governs, not my recommendation. Bring it, or have your attorneys send it, and we build the plan around it.

Colorado divides property equitably, not automatically in half

That is a legal determination made by your attorneys and the court, not by me. What I can do is give you an accurate, defensible value for the house so the division is being negotiated off a real number.

Neutrality is the whole job

I take direction from both parties or from the court. I do not advocate for one spouse's position on price or timing, I do not carry messages, and I do not discuss one of you with the other.

Discretion matters more than usual

Marketing photos with one person's belongings removed, showing times that do not require you both in the house, and a sign in the yard that tells the neighborhood nothing except that the house is for sale.

Do both spouses have to agree to sell?

If both are on title, yes, both must sign the listing agreement and the closing documents. If you cannot agree, the court can order a sale as part of the dissolution. Your attorney is the right person to ask about that; I can work under whatever the court directs.

Can one of us keep the house?

Often, yes, usually by refinancing to remove the other spouse from the mortgage and buying out their share of the equity. That requires the remaining spouse to qualify on their own income. A lender can tell you quickly whether it is realistic, and it is worth finding out before you assume either way.

When should we sell, during or after the divorce?

Both happen. Selling during can simplify the settlement because there is cash to divide instead of an asset to value. Selling after can be simpler emotionally and logistically. Carrying costs, the mortgage, and your attorneys' advice usually decide it.

Will you tell my spouse what I say to you?

I do not discuss one party's position with the other. If something has to be communicated, it goes through both of you or through your attorneys.

How do the proceeds get split?

By your agreement or your decree. The title company disburses per written instruction at closing. I do not determine or advise on the split.