Asset Allocation in a New York Divorce
Equitable Distribution Does Not mean a 50/50 Split
Most states, including New York, use equitable distribution in a divorce to divide marital property. While this does not necessarily entail a 50/50 split, it is based on a percentage that is “fair” – depending on the facts of the marriage. There are other states that have community property that consider all property acquired during the married to be equally owned by each spouse, splitting it 50/50 between both parties.
What Factors Will the Court Take Into Consideration?
In New York, divorcing spouses can either come to an agreement on how their assets will be distributed or leave it up to the court. If the court is left to decide how a couple’s property will be distributed, the judge will take a number of different factors into consideration – some of which may include:
- The income and assets of both spouses during the marriage
- The income and property of each spouse at the time that they filed for divorce
- The age and health of both spouses, and the length of the marriage
- The need of the custodial parent and children to live in the family home and use its effects
- Any loss of inheritance / rights to pension when the marriage is dissolved
- Any support or maintenance from one spouse to the order
When looking at what assets you want to keep after your divorce, it is important that you discuss the future value of these assets with your New York City divorce lawyer. This includes retirement accounts, real estate and business assets, as well as the tax consequences relating to these assets. This will ultimately help you to ensure you get the best results.
To learn more, schedule an initial consultation by calling (646) 663-4546.
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Everything you said about mediation was true. My husband and I really connected in a positive way working out the details of our divorce in mediation with you. The arguing was endless but we finally heard each other. You have a lot of patience. The property discussions made everything so emotional. You kept us focused and stopped us from rehashing the past. We tell everyone about you. Hopefully none of our friends will divorce but if they do we will tell them they need you.- Tom & Philip R.
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Thanks to Lois Brenner our wedding went well because we had our prenuptial agreement in place. We literally had her draft our prenuptial agreement 2 weeks before our wedding. She was thorough, made suggestions to include things we hadn’t even thought of, and got it done really quickly. Thanks Lois :)- Tanya S
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I have hired Mrs. Brenner and had the best experience with her in my complicated and intense divorce. She was there for me all the way, always answering promptly any questions I had. She gave me the best advice, in such a caring and kind way. She has an amazing team of specialists, that will cover any needs you might have. I highly recommend Mrs. Brenner, you can feel she’s got your back!- JN
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Going through with our divorce was very difficult time for me and my ex husband. Finding the right lawyer was very confusing, frustrating and time consuming. I was very lucky to find Lois. She is professional and human at the same time. In a few sessions she answered all of our questions, gave us great advice and filled and filed all paperwork for us. Our divorce was finalized very quickly and thanks to Lois it was very smooth process. If my best friend would need a divorce lawyer I would recommend Lois without any reservations.!!! Christina C.- Christine C.
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Lois acted as the mediator in my divorce, and she was absolutely excellent. It was a very difficult time for me personally, but Lois made the process as easy and painless as it could possibly have been. She listened to each of us separately, and made thoughtful and helpful suggestions. She is fair, and seemed to genuinely care about finding a solution that was best for both parties. Lois is perfectly qualified to handle this type of situation, given her background in psychology. She truly understands people, and used this ability to keep my ex-husband and I calm, and smoothly navigate a few tricky situations. I felt very understood by Lois, and think that she not just a top-quality attorney, but also a very decent person. She is responsive, and answered my emails within a couple of minutes every time. Highly rated!
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“I didn’t expect to find a divorce attorney as amazing as you!”- Deborah
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Lois Brenner was great to work with. She was very thorough and efficient! I would recommend Lois to anyone seeking an amicable divorce.- RW
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“We are forever grateful!”- Donna and Frank