How to Handle Emotional Value Assets During Separation

When an Asset Means More Than Money

Have you ever noticed how the value of certain things isn’t just about money? Emotional value assets, like a family cottage, an old comic book, or a cherished heirloom, can carry deep personal meaning. These aren’t just objects. They hold memories, history, even identity. And when a relationship ends, deciding what happens to these items can be one of the most emotionally charged parts of the process.

Whether it’s a wheellock musket passed down through generations or a coin collection your grandfather meticulously built, these emotional value assets become more than property. They represent connection, and that’s not so easy to divide.

What Counts as an Emotional Value Asset in a Legal Separation?

From a legal perspective, separation typically involves dividing matrimonial property, that is, anything acquired during the marriage. This could include your home, shared investments, vehicles, or recreational property.

There are a few notable exclusions: inheritances, life insurance proceeds, and personal gifts from third parties are usually not divided. So, if you inherited that antique stamp collection, it’s likely yours to keep—both legally and sentimentally. But what happens when an item that holds emotional value is also considered joint property?

Emotional Value Assets That Are Legally Shared

Let’s say you and your spouse bought a family RV together or won a Batman Issue #44 comic book at auction as a couple. It may mean the world to you—but if it was acquired during the marriage, it’s likely joint property.

Here’s the good news: joint property doesn’t automatically mean you’ll lose what you love.

In a mediation setting, there’s room for creativity and compromise. Instead of a strict 50/50 split, you can negotiate based on what each person values most—both financially and emotionally.

A Mediation Example: Keeping What Matters Most

Imagine this shared marital property:

• A house (the matrimonial home)

• A joint stock account with $5,000 in investments

• A joint bank account with $10,000

• A rare comic book, purchased together, valued at $6,000

If the comic book holds deep sentimental value for you, mediation could allow for a trade: you keep the comic book, and your spouse receives the stocks and an extra $1,000 from the bank account to balance things out.

This is where mediation-based law excels, it gives couples the flexibility to prioritize emotional value assets in a way that reflects their personal attachments.

A True Story: Dividing Art with Respect

In one real-life mediation case, a couple faced a deeply emotional challenge: dividing original artwork, much of it created by one spouse and treasured by the other. The mediator provided each person with a checklist of all the pieces. They marked:

• Which pieces they hoped to keep

• Which they were okay with letting go

• Which they didn’t mind their partner keeping

It sounds simple, but it worked. This respectful, intentional process helped preserve both the emotional and artistic significance for each party—and prevented unnecessary pain.

Navigating Emotional Value Assets with Clarity and Care

There’s something deeply human about how we get attached to certain things. And when emotional value assets become part of a separation, it’s not just about money—it’s about memory, meaning, and legacy.

The good news? With the right support and a mediation-first approach, you don’t have to lose what matters most. You can walk away with a fair outcome that honours both your heart and your future.

Next Steps:If you’re navigating separation and want to protect the assets closest to your heart, reach out to Alliston Resolutions today. Let’s explore how mediation can help you find a peaceful and fair solution.

Sources:

https://divorcego.ca/marital-property-ontario/