Many spouses agree to a settlement that seems fair, but after the taxes are paid on his or her portion of the settlement he or she only begins to realize that they got the short end of the stick. Examining the tax repercussions of a divorce settlement is a must. This is one of the first elements of a proposed settlement an accountant or lawyer should examine, because most opposing sides who are trying to offer an unfair settlement will include assets with a much higher perceived value due to a lack of consideration for taxes.