John and Jane are a married couple who live together in a home in California. They acquired the property shortly after their wedding twenty years ago. Jane has a photography studio in a loft above the garage where she meets with clients weekly. John, an avid builder, has spent … [Read more...]
California community property explained
Jack and Jane fell in love, and Jane moved into Jack's San Francisco apartment that he had purchased and paid off years earlier. Two years later, Jack and Jane married and bought a second home in Sausalito. The couple used Jack's bonuses earned during marriage for the down … [Read more...]
Did your spouse acquire a community property interest in your separate property house? (Moore-Marsden)
You inherited or received real estate as a gift before or during marriage, or bought a house before getting married. You used your salaries, bonuses, commissions, or other income earned during marriage to make improvements or pay the mortgage principal on the property. You don't … [Read more...]
How to determine the house value in divorce
You and your spouse or partner own a home together and want to know the house value for purposes of dividing or equalization your assets. How do you determine a house's value for purposes of legal separation, divorce or the dissolution of a domestic partnership? If you … [Read more...]
How to make a decision about selling your house in divorce
Selling your house in divorce is rarely easy. But making the decision to keep or sell may be easier, at least from a financial viewpoint, if you use these suggestions as a starting point for your decision-making process. 1. Know your real bottom line. Real estate agents may … [Read more...]