What is best practise on whether I should purchase a home before we establish a separation agreement or after? Mainly concerned about where I’m going to live once we separate and need to understand what my resources will be.
Does it make development of the sparation agreement more difficult if I choose to put money down on a residence prior to the agreement being accepted by both parties?
To purchase a property while you are still married, you will need to get a free trader agreement. The marital estate is based on the marital assets at the time of the separation so the property will likely be considered marital unless you purchase it with your separate assets. Purchasing the property before the separation could cause more paperwork to put it solely in your name, but it may be worth purchasing property if it will give you peace of mind.