Cohabitation
Property division can be one of the most complex aspects of a divorce. Each individual factor can play a role in what percentage or portion of a particularly expensive property is split between the two parties. One factor that can affect property division is whether or not a couple lived together before marriage. How property was purchased, and at what point pre-marriage expenses count as martial properties, are important issues in property division.
If you are facing divorce, contact the Austin divorce lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP at 512-472-2431. Let our professional advisers talk to you today.
Property Division Factors
Generally speaking, many courts will accept a limited number of properties that were purchased or funded outside of a marriage to be affected by a divorce. Several courts have backed the following outlines:
- Properties that required sufficient maintenance during the marriage, even if purchased during a period of cohabitation
- Properties that began to be purchased during a period of cohabitation, but were not completely under the couple’s ownership until the marriage
- Properties that do not fall into these categories may not be considered martial property
As these are specific enough to make splitting property funded during cohabitation defensible by the courts, couples who live together prior to a marriage subject themselves to an additional series of divisions that may not have otherwise occurred.
Contact Us
Facing divorce can be a troubling time for any person. With a complex legal system, working through the division of property can be an especially worrisome time. Contact the Austin divorce lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP at 512-472-2431 today to learn more about how a divorce attorney could help you with your case.