5 things to agree on with your spouse before you file

An uncontested divorce is only 'uncontested' if the two of you actually agree on the important stuff. A little conversation up front keeps the whole process calm and cheap. Here's what to settle before you file.

First, how you'll divide what you own: the house, the cars, bank accounts, and retirement. Second, who takes responsibility for what you owe, from the mortgage to credit cards. Third, if you have kids, a parenting schedule and how child support will work.

Fourth, whether either of you will pay spousal support, and for how long. And fifth, the small logistics that cause surprising friction later, like who keeps which email address, subscriptions, and pets. Write your decisions down. When you file, that agreement becomes part of the court's final order.