Tracing Separate Assets in Family Law Cases

Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Oklahoma Divorce Property Division Lawyers

Figuring out the separate property during a divorce can be one of the most important issues in the property division aspect of a party. For instance, an individual in the divorce may have had a 401k or IRA before they got married. They put money into this account before marriage through their hard work and labor. But, then, the individual gets married. After they get married, as a couple they continue to contribute to the 401K or the IRA. That’s when pre-marital funds and now marital funds are being mixed together- or better known as “commingled.” When a divorce later takes place, this can add to the complexity as it relates to these assets. In these situations, one party may ask that the entire 401k or IRA be split as marital property in the divorce. However, the spouse who had funds in these accounts prior to the marriage may argue that they should get whatever was in these accounts prior to marriage as their separate property.

How to Trace Separate Property in Divorce?

When a party wants to argue that a portion of the property in a divorce is separate property, they generally have to do so with clear and convincing evidence.  As it relates to premarital funds in an I RA or 401k, the separate funds will generally need to be traced out from the account. This often requires a forensic account reviewing statements and then doing an analysis to determine the amount that was in these accounts during the marriage. Parties may also need to subpoena the statements from the date of the marriage to try and calculate the amount that was in the account previous to the marriage. In addition to 401ks or IRAs, tracing can be important for other assets like bank accounts, investment accounts, whole life insurance accounts, and other assets where a party might have built up cash value prior to marriage. Of course, in some instances, a party might consider having a prenuptial agreement drafted prior to getting married to ensure the protection of these assets. Tracing can be important for other assets as well. These assets range from bank accounts, investment accounts, life insurance accounts, and other assets where the party may have built cash value previous to the marriage. In some instances, a party may have drafted a prenuptial agreement prior to the marriage, to ensure the protection of these assets.

Multi-State Property Division Lawyers 

If you need help with a divorce matter where the tracing of separate assets is an important issue, Stange Law Firm, PC can help.  You can contact us online or call us at 855-805-0595. We have locations in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, Wichita, Tulsa, Chicago, Lincoln, and beyond.

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Helpful Information Regarding Property and Debt Division From our Webpage

We also have pages on numerous other topics related to property and debt division from our webpage, including the pages below and on our menu:
High Asset Divorce
If you are considering divorce and have a high net worth, it's important that you have legal counsel in your corner. It is also vital that you have an attorney that is diligent on your behalf.
Divorce Financial Planning
If you will be going through a divorce, conducting divorce financial planning can be critical to ensuring that you can move on with your life on sound financial footing.
Commingling Assets
In many divorce, parties own some assets prior to marriage and then buy additional assets after marriage. Often, these assets can end up being mixed together (or commingled). If this has happened in your case, it is important to work a diligent lawyer.
Transmutation
In some cases, a party might own certain property or assets prior to marriage. After marriage, the assets might become re-titled in joint names, which can result in the assets being transmuted into marital property. Our lawyers can help you if this is what has happened in your case.
Complex Property Distribution
In many high asset divorces, property distribution can be complex and complicated. Our attorneys can help you with difficult property distribution.
The Marital Home
The martial home can often be one of the most prized marital assets in a divorce. The marital residence can also be important as it relates to stability for children in divorce. Our lawyers can assist if this is the case for you.
Real Estate Appraisers
When residential or commercial property is owned in a divorce, ensuring that this property is properly valuated by a real estate appraisal can be critical in many cases. Our lawyer can help ensure you are refered to a competent real estate appraisal.
Trusts
Many parties have either created trusts for their family, or stand to inherit funds through a trust outside of the probate court. In many cases, this can be an important issue in a divorce in which our lawyers can help.
Inheritance
In many divorces, parties have either inherited, or stand to inherit, sums of money from their parents or other relatives. This can be a contentious issue in some cases in which our lawyers can help.
Investment Accounts
In many marriages, parties can have investments accounts where they are saving money in the hopes that they can have a better life, save for their retirement and have assets in which to provide their children and grandchildren. When a divorce takes place, it's vital that these assets be appropriately accounted for in the property division phase of a divorce.
Stocks and Bonds
Many married couples also have significant sums in stocks and bonds. It's vital to work with an attorney to have an accounting of what is out there and to ensure it is properly addressed in family court.
Life Insurance
Term life and whole life insurance policies are commonly held by parties in a marriage. When parties divorce, these life insurance policies can become critically important in terms of the possession of the policies, the beneficiaries that remain on them and who is to make the payments and/or have possession of the cash value in instance of whole life insurance.
Appreciation of Separate Property
In some dissolution of marriages, parties owned and possessed separate property prior to marriage. During the marriage, these assets can often increase in value due, in part, to the contribution of the other spouse. Our lawyers can help individuals in these instances.
Marital Debt
In many cases, debt can be a real problem as it relates to property distribution, albeit through support or marital debt. If that is the case in your divorce, our lawyers can assist.
Jumbo Mortgages
Jumbo mortgages can be an issue in some divorces. If this is the case for you, you can talk to our lawyers.
Property Issues for Unmarried Couples
For many unmarried couples, they can accumulate property and debt. When they separate, the property and debt they own together can become a contentious issue. Our lawyers can often help if this is the case through a partition action.
Quit Claim Deed
Some people wonder how to transfer title out of joint names after a divorce. Our lawyers can help explain how a Quit Claim Deed works.
Refinance
Many are not sure as well how to get a mortgage out of the names of both spouses after divorce. Find out more about refinance and divorce.
Gift Affidavits
Parties oftentimes have to transfer title to their vehicles as part of a divorce. Find out more about how gift affidavits work.
Commissioner to Sell Real Estate
Some divorcing parties are unable to work together to sell their real estate as part of the divorce. You might be interested in knowing more about the possibility of a Commissioner being appointed.
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Prenuptial Agreements Line by Line

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