<prompt> Human: My wife and I are in the early stages of an amicable divorce. Were 30K underwater, so we figure with commission and other fees were looking at 50k to get out of the whole thing without damaging our credit. We dont have that kind of money, and neither of us can handle the mortgage on our own. The way I see it there are three options Convert the house to apartments. Our state requires us to live apart to get a divorce, but we may be able to get by on this technicality. The downsides are 1 weirdness when we start dating and 2 our neighborhood is mostly single family homes and I believe this would further hurt the resale value. The upside is we would not have to negotiate custody until our daughter is a few years older. Rent the house until the market turns around. The downside is that a competitive rent would barely be our mortgage payment, so upkeep would be out of pocket. Walk away. Downside, all houses, cars, and apartments would have to be cash or cosigned for years to come. So I guess the questions is: How much is good credit worth?Note: we both have scores in the high 700s right now. Assistant: Go to a law library, find a book on cohabitation and separation. Your state requires you to live apart for a year before divorce. Most places have a clause that allow you to live separate and apart in the same dwelling You just have to prove that you cook your own meals separately, only do your dishes, your laundry, no shared monies joint banking accounts. So if you can live with her for a year as a separated individual, your house value may rebound. You get your divorce. You wont face such a financial hardship.Find a precedent pre-written form on a separation agreement regarding bill payments etc. Do it up formally and try not to murder each other.Human: This would be ideal. Thanks!  <response>: I just did some checking for you. Maryland does not recognize living separate and apart under the same roof. Ask a lawyer to be certain though. 