Some property belongs to one spouse or the other and isn't part of the division. For example, you may have an art collection that you owned before the marriage. You may have gifts you received from your spouse or your parents during the marriage. That property is usually considered yours. You and your spouse both own your wedding gifts, but the two of you may reach an agreement that the gifts from your family and friends remain yours and the gifts from your spouse's family and friends remain his or hers. However, there are most likely several items to divide still, particularly if the marriage was a long one.

A good starting point is to make a list of all the household items. You don't have to list every single item. You can group some items together, like the kitchen table and chairs, the dishes, or the outside furniture. Make a note beside each item of how important it is to you. You'll need to set a value on the items. You can check Craigslist or eBay for prices, but if the items are expensive, you may want to hire an appraiser. You and your spouse can split the cost of the appraiser.

You and your spouse should agree on as much as you can. You can divide the items on your list into what you want, what your spouse wants, what you both want, and what neither of you wants. Try to be reasonable and willing to compromise. If you’re keeping the house, you may want to keep most of the furniture. Your lawyer can offset the value in other ways, such as more or less alimony. If you're sharing custody, you may want to split the children's belongings, so the children will have some of their things at both houses.

Try to work out a way to divide the household items with your spouse. If you run into problems, check with your lawyer for guidance. One method of splitting the household items is to take turns choosing an item. Once you or your spouse reaches one-half of the value of the list, the remainder goes to the other spouse. Another method is to divide the items into two piles of equal value. Flip a coin and let the winner choose his or her pile. You can put unwanted items in a third pile and donate those items to charity.

You and your spouse should agree on a deadline for the division to be complete. Put the deadline in writing and include consequences for failing to meet the deadline. For example, if you’re remaining in the marital home, give your spouse a set time period to remove his or her belongings. If he or she doesn't comply, give yourself the right to dispose of the property and get reimbursement for your costs.