If you\u2019re getting divorced, you\u2019ll have to decide how you\u2019ll divide up your debts and property between you and your spouse. If you can\u2019t agree, you may ask a court to do this for you. The community property laws in Arizona state that any debts or assets acquired during the marriage belong to both parties.<\/p>\n
In accordance with this law, the property must be divided fairly and approximately equally.<\/p>\n
Even if you didn\u2019t intend to do so, your bank account or home might count as community property if you treated them as such during the marriage. While most items will be split about evenly between you, some exceptions exist. If one spouse racks up debt on their own in an irresponsible way, for example, they may end up with a higher percentage of debt to pay.<\/p>\n
Working with an attorney can be helpful for securing your best chance at a favorable outcome in your divorce.<\/p>\n
Whether you go through the court or you handle dividing property on your own, you\u2019ll need to figure out whether the debt or property in question is marital or individual. You will decide how the marital property should be divided once you agree on its value.<\/p>\n
Since Arizona is a community property state<\/a>, most debts or assets acquired during a marriage belong about equally to each spouse. However, property that belonged exclusively to one spouse before getting married or was acquired as an inheritance or gift, doesn\u2019t count as marital (community) property as long as financial records support this. Partners may change a separate asset into a community asset during the marriage, or vice versa.<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible to change separate property into marital property inadvertently by commingling (combining) separate property with community assets. For example, if one spouse has a premarital bank account, it may become community property if the other partner adds funds to it.<\/p>\n If both spouses contribute to mortgage<\/a> payments on a house that\u2019s owned by only one of them, it may become either partially or completely marital property.<\/p>\n Your marital home may be deeded in one partner\u2019s name, held as tenants in common, or held jointly. Unless your house was only deeded in one of your names, the house will usually be evenly split between each of you. If you want to keep the house, you\u2019ll most likely have to purchase your ex out of their portion. You should also refinance the property in order to take your ex off the mortgage.<\/p>\n Distinguishing martial assets from separate assets is complicated for some spouses. In complex situations regarding property in a divorce, it\u2019s a wise call to consult an attorney for advice on what to do next.<\/p>\n If you agree with your spouse on the terms of your debt and property division, you may present a judge with your property settlement agreement. This agreement should include each debt and asset, its value, and who owns it. To ensure that the agreement is legally sound, it\u2019s best to consult an experienced legal professional to review it.<\/p>\n Here are a few of the most common questions divorcing couples may have about property division in Arizona:<\/p>\n Arizona law doesn\u2019t state that the length of marriage has an effect on how property shall be divided in the event of divorce. But, in most cases, the longer the marriage was, the more property there will be to split between the two spouses.<\/p>\n If your marriage ended because your spouse betrayed you, will they receive less property as a result? Arizona is a \u201cno-fault<\/a>\u201d divorce state, meaning that the legal system doesn\u2019t usually take each spouse\u2019s conduct into account when dividing assets. If your spouse spent money on an activity that didn\u2019t benefit the community, however, you shouldn\u2019t be responsible for their expenses.<\/p>\n Establishing wasteful spending like this can be difficult, so if you\u2019re in this situation, you should file for a divorce quickly to minimize your obligations for your spouse\u2019s debts. Filing and serving your ex with a petition to divorce will sever your link to any debts they incur afterwards.<\/p>\n Either the spouses or the court will assign a value to each asset from the marriage. You can call in a professional to get an appraisal for real property and valuables such as artwork or antique items. You may need to speak with a financial professional to properly value your retirement assets.<\/p>\n To most divorcing spouses, holding property with their ex sounds unthinkable and would make it harder to move on. However, if you still have kids in school, you might decide to keep your house until they graduate. As an alternative to selling your assets and splitting the proceeds, you can agree to keep certain property together, if that suits your needs better.<\/p>\n Most of the time, the court will honor an agreement between you and your ex. However, if the conditions seem unbalanced or unfair, the judge may want to look further into the matter before approving it. If you\u2019re in the midst of divorce proceedings and have questions about how to split your house with your ex-partner, consult an experienced family law attorney<\/a> as soon as possible.<\/p>\nHow is the Marital Home Handled?<\/h3>\n
How Working With an Attorney Can Help<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions on Property Division and Divorce<\/h2>\n
Q: Does the length of your marriage impact the division of property?<\/h3>\n
Q: My divorce was my spouse\u2019s fault. Does this impact property division?<\/h3>\n
Q: How should I determine property value during the divorce process?<\/h3>\n
Q: Can I still hold property with my spouse after getting a divorce?<\/h3>\n
What to Do if You Need Help With a Divorce in Arizona<\/h2>\n