What Should I Do With My Belongings During a Divorce?

When getting a divorce, start by sorting your belongings into things you’re taking with you, selling, donating, giving away, storing, or getting rid of. For items you don’t have room for or aren’t ready to deal with yet, a storage unit can give you a place to keep them while you settle into your new home. 

You don’t have to decide everything at once. Start with the things you need every day, then work through the rest as you have time and space. 

Key takeaways 

• Sort belongings into categories such as take, store, sell, donate, and get rid of. 
• Move everyday essentials first, rather than trying to move everything at once. 
• Use storage for belongings you want to keep but don’t have room for yet. 
• Create an inventory of items you put into storage and label your boxes clearly. 
• Pack furniture, clothing, and other belongings carefully for storage. 
• Leave pathways in your storage unit so you can reach your belongings. 
• Keep important documents and everyday essentials somewhere you can access them easily. 
• Give yourself time to make decisions about sentimental belongings. 
• Measure your new home before moving large furniture out of storage. 
• Bring belongings into your new home in stages as you figure out where everything will go. 
• Be intentional with children’s belongings to make the transition easier for them. 

Start by sorting your belongings 

Go through your belongings and put them into a few simple categories: 

• Take with you 
• Store 
• Sell 
• Donate 
• Give to family or friends 
• Get rid of 

Start with the rooms and belongings you use most. It can be easier to make decisions when you’re looking at one area at a time instead of trying to sort your entire household in one day. 

You may also want a “decide later” category. If you’re not sure whether you want to keep something, set it aside rather than forcing yourself to make a decision immediately. 

Decide what needs to move first 

You probably don’t need to take everything right away. Start with the things you’ll need right away in your new home. 

This might include: 

• Everyday clothing 
• Toiletries 
• Medications 
• Important documents 
• Work equipment 
• Basic kitchen supplies 
• Children’s belongings 
• Pet supplies 
• Bedding 
• Towels 
• A few favorite personal items 

Pack these belongings separately so you can find them easily when you arrive. 

Use storage for belongings you aren’t ready to move 

You may have belongings you want to keep but don’t have room for in your new home. You may also need to move before you’ve decided what to do with everything. 

A storage unit can give you some breathing room during the transition. You can store extra furniture, seasonal clothing, holiday decorations, keepsakes, collectibles, and other belongings while you figure out what belongs in your new home. 

Temporary storage can also help if there’s a gap between moving out of one home and moving into another, like if you plan on staying with friends or family for a while. 

Choose the right storage unit size 

Think about how much you’re storing before choosing a unit. A smaller unit may be enough for boxes and a few pieces of furniture, while a larger household may need more space. 

Storage unit sizes and availability vary by location, so use the table as a starting point rather than an exact measurement of how much your belongings will require. 

Create an inventory of what you’re storing 

Make a list of the belongings you put into storage. You don’t have to record every small item, but keep track of boxes, furniture, appliances, and other major belongings. 

Label boxes with their contents and the room they came from. For example, instead of writing “miscellaneous” on a box, write “Kitchen — baking supplies.” 

For valuable or sentimental belongings, take photos and keep records somewhere outside the storage unit. This can make it easier to remember what you have and where it is. It can also help to document what you took with you for anything that may come up in court or mediation.  

Pack your belongings for storage 

Take a little extra care when packing belongings that may stay in storage for months. Use sturdy boxes and don’t overload them. Wrap fragile items individually and use furniture covers to protect upholstered pieces and other furniture from dust. 

Make sure everything is clean and completely dry before packing it away. Damp belongings can develop odors or other problems while they’re stored. 

Disassemble large furniture when possible. Keep screws, bolts, and other small hardware in labeled bags and attach them to the furniture so you can find them later. 

Make your storage unit easy to access 

You may need to retrieve belongings several times while you’re settling into your new home or staying with someone else, so don’t pack your storage unit willy-nilly. 

Leave a clear path through the unit. Put belongings you’ll need soon toward the front and less frequently used items toward the back. 

Keep a simple map of the unit showing where major items and boxes are located. If you need your winter clothes or a particular piece of furniture later, you’ll know where to look. 

What should you put in storage during a divorce? 

Storage can be useful for belongings you want to keep but don’t need in your new home right away. 

Consider storing: 

• Extra furniture 
• Seasonal clothing 
• Holiday decorations 
• Family keepsakes 
• Collectibles 
• Books 
• Sports equipment 
• Children’s items 
• Appliances 
• Extra household supplies 
• Moving boxes and packing materials 
• Items you’re not ready to make a decision about 

For belongings that can be affected by temperature or humidity changes, consider whether a climate-controlled storage unit makes sense for what you’re storing. 

Create a plan for your stored belongings 

Storage shouldn’t become a place where you forget about everything you don’t know what to do with. Set a reminder to review your unit after you’ve settled into your new home. Go through your inventory and decide whether you still want each category of belongings. 

You may discover that you have room for some things at home, while other belongings can be sold, donated, or given away. 

Taking this approach can turn temporary storage into a step in the organizing process rather than a permanent holding place for things you never use. 

Keep important belongings organized 

Moving can make it surprisingly easy to lose track of important papers and personal belongings. Keep important documents together and make sure they’re easy to access. Depending on your situation, this could include financial records, medical records, school documents, work paperwork, photographs, and other personal records. 

Don’t put documents you need regularly into a storage unit. Keep everyday essentials with you so you can access them when necessary. 

Make a plan for sentimental belongings 

Some belongings can be difficult to sort because they carry memories or emotional meaning. You don’t have to decide what to do with every sentimental item immediately. If you’re unsure, put those belongings into a separate box and label it clearly. You can revisit it once you’re settled into your new home. 

Storage can also give you time to decide. If you don’t have room for family photographs, keepsakes, or other meaningful belongings right now, you can store them until you have a better idea of where you want them. 

Decide what to do with belongings that don’t fit 

Your new home may have less storage space than your previous home. Once you’ve moved the essentials, look at what’s left and decide what deserves the space you have. Now is a good time to get rid of anything that brings up bad memories or emotions. 

Note: Be sure not to get rid of anything until the divorce or an official agreement over assets is final. Talk to your attorney if you have any questions. 

Consider selling or donating things you no longer want. You can also give belongings to friends or family members who want them. 

For items you’re not ready to part with, storage can give you more time to decide. Just remember that storing something indefinitely can add up over time, so revisit your stored belongings periodically. 

Move belongings into your new home in stages 

You don’t have to move everything from storage into your new home at once. Going slowly can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed in an already stressful situation. Start with the belongings you need most. Once you’ve arranged your furniture and figured out how much space you have, bring over additional items. 

Measure before moving large furniture 

Before moving furniture from storage into your new home, measure the rooms where you want to put it. 

Check: 

• Room dimensions 
• Doorways 
• Hallways 
• Stairways 
• Elevators 
• Closet openings 

A couch that fit easily in your old home may not fit through the door of your new one. Measuring first can save you from moving a heavy piece of furniture only to discover that it won’t fit where you planned. 

Keep kids’ belongings organized between two homes 

If your children will be spending time at both homes, it can help to keep some of their everyday belongings at each place. Having clothes, pajamas, toiletries, school supplies, and other basics in both homes means they don’t have to pack everything back and forth every time they visit. 

Start by making a list of what your kids use regularly and decide what they need at each home. Depending on their age and routines, this could include: 

• Everyday clothes and pajamas  
• Shoes and coats  
• Toiletries and personal-care items  
• School supplies  
• Sports equipment  
• Toys, books, and games  
• Favorite blankets or stuffed animals  
• Seasonal clothing  
• Special-occasion outfits  

For belongings that aren’t needed every day, you can divide them between the homes or keep them in a storage unit until you have more space. Label boxes by child and category so you can find things easily when you need them. 

It can also help to keep a small bag or bin for items that regularly travel between homes. When something goes into the bag, it can come back out at the other home instead of getting mixed in with everything else. 

Most importantly, don’t feel like you need to duplicate everything. Start with the things your kids use most, then add items as you figure out what they need at each home. 

FAQs about storing belongings during a divorce 

Should I put my belongings in storage when moving out? 

Storage can be useful if you don’t have enough room in your new home, you’re between homes, or you aren’t ready to decide what to do with certain belongings. It gives you a place to keep things while you get settled. 

What should I take with me when moving into a new home after divorce? 

Start with everyday essentials such as clothing, toiletries, medications, important documents, bedding, basic kitchen supplies, work equipment, and anything else you’ll need during your first few days. 

How do I organize my belongings when moving after a divorce? 

Sort belongings by what you’re taking, storing, selling, donating, giving away, or getting rid of. Work through one room or category at a time, and use a “decide later” category for things you’re not ready to sort. 

How do I keep track of what’s in my storage unit? 

Create an inventory and label every box with its general contents. Keep a simple map showing where boxes and large belongings are located, and take photos of valuable items before putting them into storage. 

What should I do with sentimental belongings after a divorce? 

If you’re not ready to decide, put sentimental belongings aside rather than making a rushed decision. You can keep them with you, give them to someone you trust for safekeeping, or put them in storage while you settle into your new home. 

Should I store important documents in a storage unit? 

Keep documents you need regularly somewhere you can access them easily. For documents you don’t need every day, put them in a safe-deposit box. Keep digital or backup copies of important records when possible.