Divorce Buyout Calculator
Estimate how much it costs to buy out your spouse's share of the home, retirement accounts, or other marital assets in a divorce settlement. See whether you can offset the buyout with other assets or if you'll need cash.
How does a divorce buyout work?
A divorce buyout happens when one spouse wants to keep a marital asset — usually the family home — and compensates the other spouse for their share. The buying spouse pays the selling spouse their portion of the equity, either in cash (often through refinancing the mortgage), by trading other marital assets, or through a combination of both.
For example, if your home is worth $500,000 with a $300,000 mortgage, the equity is $200,000. In a 50/50 split, your spouse's share would be $100,000. You could refinance the mortgage for $400,000 ($300,000 existing + $100,000 buyout), give your spouse $100,000 from other assets, or negotiate a mix of both.
Common buyout methods
Refinancing. The most common approach. You refinance the mortgage in your name only and cash out enough to pay your spouse their share. You'll need to qualify on your income alone, and the new mortgage payment (plus taxes, insurance, and maintenance) needs to fit your post-divorce budget.
Asset offset. Instead of paying cash, you give your spouse a larger share of other marital assets — such as retirement accounts, savings, or investments — in exchange for keeping the house. This avoids refinancing but means giving up assets that could grow over time.
Structured payments. In some cases, couples agree to a payment plan — for example, the buying spouse pays the other over several years. This can work but carries risks if circumstances change.
What people often miss
Closing costs on refinancing. Refinancing typically costs 2-5% of the loan amount. This is money out of pocket or added to your loan balance.
A house isn't the same as cash. $200,000 in home equity is not the same as $200,000 in a retirement account. The house costs money to maintain and doesn't generate income. The retirement account has the potential to grow (though returns are not guaranteed).
Tax consequences of asset trades. If you trade retirement accounts for home equity, you're giving up pre-tax dollars for an after-tax asset. $100,000 in a 401(k) might only be worth $70,000-$80,000 after taxes when withdrawn. Consult a financial advisor about the tax implications.
From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps
No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.
Enter your numbers
Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.
See the projection
Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.
Model & export
Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.
Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.
See what a Pro analysis looks like
We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.
You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers
Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.
Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.