Laws and regulations vary a great deal from state to state, so where you live often has a huge impact on your divorce and the division of property.
Though the regions to the north and south of us both take the community property approach, they’re actually in the minority. Only nine of the fifty states—and Alaska by agreement—adhere to community property statutes. The rest practice equitable distribution and Oregon falls into this category.
How Is Property Divided In Divorce In Oregon?
In community property states, all assets, property, and debts acquired during a marriage are viewed as belonging equally to both spouses. Equitable distribution, on the other hand, views them as belonging to the individual spouse who earned it.
When it comes to divorce, no set rules for the division of property exist. Instead, as the name implies, the court aims to divide assets between both parties in a fair and equitable manner.
The two sides sit down, usually with attorneys, judges, or mediators, to determine the division of property. The ultimate goal is for both to maintain a standard of living similar to what they enjoyed during the marriage.
Related Reading: The Impact of Major Purchases on Divorce
Separate Versus Joint Property
Before getting down to the business of the division of property, it’s important to know that there are two kinds of property: separate property and joint property. And Oregon treats both types of assets differently.
Separate /Premarital Property:
As you probably infer from the name, separate property belongs to one spouse or the other. Though usually something owned before marriage, this category also includes gifts or inheritance. The court can include separate property when dividing assets if fairness dictates, but in general, it remains with the owner.
In the case of premarital property, it also usually stays with the original owner. For example, if you bought a car and kept it registered in your name, it will likely remain yours. This gets cloudy in longer-term marriages or in cases where assets commingle. In longer marriages, lives become much more intertwined, and the line between separate and marital property blurs.
Joint /Marital Property:
Any and all property acquired or earned during a marriage generally constitutes marital property.
Despite a name on a title, with equitable distribution, Oregon courts presume both spouses contributed to any assets acquired during the marriage, whether true or not. Property equally acquired is subsequently equally distributed in divorce, in a fair, equitable fashion.
It is possible for spouses to work out the division of property on their own. If both sides come to an agreement, the court will generally accept it, unless it skews drastically in favor of one party. Even once the courts get involved, you can make a case for ownership.
You can argue that the other spouse didn’t contribute as much to a certain acquisition. Or the two sides can bargain and haggle. For instance, perhaps you’re willing to cede possession of a car in exchange for the title to a boat.
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Factors That Influence the Division of Property
The reality of property division varies a great deal from case to case. Things often become tricky when it comes to determining what belongs to who.
Equitable distribution doesn’t mean the court divides all assets in half.
The court attempts to divide the assets in a fair fashion. In order to accomplish this, they need a clear picture of who owns what individually and what belongs to the couple as a unit.
The court looks at many factors:
- The number of properties.
- If significant items, like a house or other property, need to be sold, the court considers the costs and expenses associated with that.
- This also includes things like taxes and fees.
- Pensions and retirement plans.
- Medical bills.
- If only one spouse works, the court accounts for the other party’s role and contributions as a homemaker.
In many cases, the court subsequently distributes these items or assets in a fitting manner.
During the division of property, however, you can dispute this approach. You can argue your ex didn’t contribute equally to the acquisition, make a case for possession, or barter for ownership.
Once the assets and debts have been classified as either marital or separate property, a value or liability is assigned to each. The court then divvies them up between the two parties in the fairest, most egalitarian way possible.
Anticipated costs also figure into the division of property.
If you have children, the court accounts for their ongoing needs. This includes the ability to pay child support and provide for their care and well-being. For example, the custodial parent may get the marital home for stability and continuity’s sake.
While a number of considerations factor into the process, one that doesn’t is fault.
Oregon is a no-fault divorce state, so who caused a split doesn’t play a role in how assets are split. Individual judges also have their own interpretations and applications of the laws and regulations. As a result, no two divorces ever play out in identical fashion.
Related Reading: How Long Does Divorce Take in Oregon?
Dealing With Major Assets, Like A House
Major assets can complicate the property division process. But there are a number of ways to go about this. Houses offer a prime example.
For most people, a house represents the biggest purchase they ever make and their most valuable possession. Because of this, they’re also usually the most significant piece of the puzzle in the division of property.
In these situations, you have three common strategies:
- You can sell the home and split the earnings.
- One spouse buys out the other and refinances in his or her name.
- If there are children, the custodial parent may continue to live in the home for a period. Most often this lasts until the youngest child turns 18 or graduates from high school. At that time, they either buy out the other spouse or sell the house and split the proceeds.
Related Reading: Should You Sell Your Home During Divorce?
Unexpected Divorce Assets
Everyone thinks of bank accounts, vacation homes, stocks, bonds, retirement annuities, and other traditional assets. But when it comes to the division of property, a number of unexpected divorce assets often go overlooked.
Too often people leave potentially valuable items on the table because they simply don’t think about them or their worth.
With that in mind, here is a collection of unexpected divorce assets that often go overlooked when ending a marriage:
Airline Miles
Many of us have credit cards where we earn airline miles or similar rewards every time we swipe. They’re convenient and come in handy for trips and vacations. And if you acquire them during a marriage, the court considers them marital property and subject to allocation.
The actual division can be difficult. Some airlines assign a dollar value to miles, others don’t. This complicates things when it comes to establishing their worth. Whether or not your particular program allows an account to be divided also plays a role.
Collections/Memorabilia
People collect everything. If it exists, there’s probably an enthusiastic collector out there.
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- Comic books.
- Baseball cards.
- Stamps.
- Wine.
- Sports memorabilia.
- Coins.
- Antiques.
- Even the toys that come in a Mcdonald’s Happy Meal.
These collections often have great sentimental importance. Beyond that, depending on what it is, they may also have a substantial monetary value. Depending on when you acquired them, these items factor into your divorce settlement.
Cemetery Plots
It may sound morbid to consider the value of cemetery plots in a divorce, but have you priced them lately? They don’t come cheap.
Since you likely don’t want to be buried next to your ex, unless we’re talking about a remarkably amicable split, this is one to put on the chopping block.
Plots carry a substantial price tag. They can be an unexpected divorce asset you shouldn’t overlook when it comes to the division of property.
Intellectual Property
It may be a bit tricky to put a price tag on, but intellectual property also factors into divorce settlements.
This includes everything from copyrights and patents to trademarks and more. They may not always be huge revenue makers, but they could in the future, or you may simply want to hang onto an idea you had.
As with other items on this list, timing plays a role in how the court divides these.
For example, if you receive a patent early on in a marriage, but you did all of the legwork before the wedding, it may count as separate property. But if you derive a significant amount of money from it during the marriage, that may also be subject to division.
Loans to Other People
Loaning money to friends and family can be a dicey proposition. Many of you have “loaned” someone money when you know you have no hope of getting it back. At least not anytime soon.
That said, money loaned during a marriage sometimes comes into play while you hash out a divorce settlement. For instance, if your ex loaned her brother $5000 from joint funds while married, the money paid back can often be divided.
Memberships
You may not think of a country club membership as a shared asset, but it just might be.
You may not even golf. But clubs, associations, and memberships like this often charge large sums, hundreds of dollars a month in some cases, to join and maintain that connection. These can come into play during a divorce.
Some clubs have specific guidelines for divorcing members, though many will honor the couple’s ultimate decision. In some cases, you may have to re-apply for membership. Like other assets, you and your spouse will have to negotiate the terms and decide on how to divide the value.
This is far from an exhaustive list of unexpected assets. We could go on and on. People have and will continue to fight over just about anything in a divorce.
More than anything, this serves as an illustration of why you should pay attention to the details during a divorce. You may miss out on substantial items or vital bargaining chips because their worth simply isn’t as immediately obvious as others.
Related Reading: How Is Debt Divided During Divorce In Oregon?