When a marriage ends, personal and economic relationships end

as well. In Pennsylvania, the assets and debts you and your spouse

acquired during the marriage — your marital estate — is divided

in the process of the divorce called “Equitable Distribution”.

Bear in mind that equitably means fairly; fairly does not always

mean equally.

 

There are 11 factors the court considers to “equitably” divide

a marital estate.  Those are:

 

• The length of your marriage.

• Any prior marriages.

• Each spouse’s age, health, income, vocational skills, employability, assets and liabilities and the needs of each of the parties.

• The contribution of one spouse to the education, training and earning power of the other party.

• The opportunity of each spouse to earn future income and acquire future assets and income.

• Sources of income including, but not limited to, medical, retirement, insurance or other benefits.

• The contribution or dissipation of each party in the acquisition, preservation, depreciation or appreciation of the marital property, including the contribution of a party as homemaker.

• The value of the property set apart to each party.

• The standard of living of the parties established during your marriage.

• The economic circumstances of each party, including Federal, State and local tax ramifications, at the time the division of property is to become effective.

• Whether the party will be serving as the custodian of any dependent minor children.

 

At Liebmann Family Law, our Bucks County Property Division lawyers have more than 100 years of combined legal experience in dealing with equitable distribution issues. Often, these are among the most contentious in a divorce.