When going through a divorce, deciding how to divide your marital home, income and money is a necessary step to ending your marriage. In Pennsylvania, property is equitably distributed based on a multitude of factors. If you are in the process of getting a divorce, knowing more about the court’s view of asset division can help you plan for your post-divorce life.
Length of marriage and standard of living
The division of your assets during divorce is primarily done by examining the time spent in your marriage. Typically, those married for longer amounts of time will have their property divided much more evenly than those married for a few years. This may even be true if one of the spouses did not earn income for a significant portion of the marriage in order to maintain the home or take care of children.
Furthermore, the court system will consider the standard of living maintained throughout the marriage. The courts often attempt to preserve the same standard of living, particularly in longer marriages.
Future income potential
Another factor that will play an important role is the potential future income ability for each of the spouses after divorce. If one spouse has been working throughout the marriage and can earn significantly more income than the other spouse, the courts will use this information to determine how to divide the marriage’s valuables.
Dividing property equitably when a marriage ends is the goal for many court systems. If you have questions or concerns about the dissolution of your marriage, contacting an attorney familiar with family law may provide further support. Getting professional help might mean a better understanding of what to expect and how to proceed throughout your divorce case.