One of the most significant issues in a divorce is the division of property. Ideally, you and your spouse will be able to reach a mutual agreement about who gets what property. If you’re not able to agree, you’ll have to pursue litigation where a judge will decide for you how your property will be distributed. In some cases, like high-net-worth divorces, it may be best to move straight to litigation.

Whether you settle out of court or end up in front of a judge, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the differences between separate property, community property, and domicile. Here’s what you should know.

If you’re preparing for a divorce, it’s important to take steps to protect your assets. Here’s what you can do to protect what belongs to you and is rightfully yours in a Long Island divorce.

If you are considering divorce and you and your spouse own a home together, you’ll need to make some decisions about what to do with the property when you are no longer living together. Often, this means selling the home. New York is an equitable distribution state, meaning that a court will make every attempt to ensure that property is divided between you and your ex-spouse as fairly as possible — which may not always mean equally. If selling your home is on the table, you need to know whether it’s better to sell the home before your divorce is finalized, or after. Here’s what you should know.

In the event of a divorce on Long Island, all of a couple’s assets, property, and debts are divided between them in a process known as Equitable Distribution. Under New York law, this is done equitably, meaning fair but not necessarily equal. Here’s what you need to know about what may happen to your bank accounts after your divorce and how to get legal help to protect your financial assets as you dissolve your marriage.

Attorney Robert E. Hornberger, Esq., of Hornberger Verbitsky, P.C., appears on Eye on Real Estate, a podcast and radio show with Dottie Hermann, CEO of Douglas Elliman, the fourth leading real estate firm in America. He discusses topics related to splitting the marital residence in New York and distributing separate and marital property in a divorce. Eye on Real Estate is dedicated to exploring mortgage news and market trends and answering tough real estate questions asked by listeners.

Here are some of the podcast’s highlights:

Many people are concerned about their divorce affecting their job, however, the reverse is also frequently true. Your employment may impact your divorce in significant ways, particularly if you’re self-employed. Here’s what to expect if you own a business or otherwise work for yourself and are getting a divorce.

You’ll Need to Do More to Prove Your Income

Self-employment income is more difficult to prove than traditional income in any situation, not just in a divorce. If you’re a contractor, for example, you may get a 1099 once a year instead of W2s. Or, you may be responsible for calculating miscellaneous income yourself. If you’re a business owner, you’ll need to assess your gross income, expenses, and net profits. With most types of self-employment, the pay is erratic or differs substantially from month to month. This, coupled with the lack of pay stubs, makes it challenging to calculate an accurate estimate of your income. Expect to gather six months or more of bank statements and fill out multiple forms.