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The one thing the judge (or ‘The court’ as he or she so pompously often puts it) is to be involved in splitting contents. The judge has got the power to make an order of who has what, but a busy judge with pressing and urgent cases to hear is going to be pretty grumpy if at the end of a hearing, he is asked to spend hours arguing over who gets an old TV or DVD player.

Try to agree contents, even if it means apparently giving up more than half. The game is not worth the candle.

Produce a list, a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet listing everything and dividing it equally.

If not draw lots, having recorded the arrangement as binding. Less you find a solution a judge might throw his hands up in the air and say “I order that everything be sold” and then you will each get half of the proceeds, which will be next to nothing so be careful.

You will be offered mediation in these disputes, which often is an expensive waste of time. If you do need ruling from the judge make it clear early in the case that you are going to ask the judge to rule on that, so that the appropriate time can be given to it.

Do not let contents distract you from the bigger issues.

Take expert legal advice at an early stage.