Copyrights and Divorce

During the division of property portion of the divorce process, couples have to divide up every piece of property they acquired during the course of the marriage. In the state of Texas, community property is divided equally between the two individuals. While many couples argue over ownership of vehicles, houses, and other assets, there is one piece of community property that both individuals can each own after a divorce – a copyright.

Copyrights are legal documents that give authors or artists sole rights to their piece of artistic work for their lifetime plus anywhere from 50 to 70 years afterward. When a married couple writes a book, song, play, or other such work together, they can both retain the copyright after divorce. To make sure you are sure that you keep your copyright after divorce, contact an experienced Austin divorce lawyer of Slater, Kennon & Pugh LLP today at 512-472-2431 and schedule a free consultation with a qualified attorney.

Copyrights after Divorce

Unlike regular community property, a copyright cannot be divided equally; therefore, each partner still retains ownership even after a divorce. However, the ex-spouses may still have to divide any profits stemming from the copyrighted item.

Unfortunately, things can become complicated if one copyright holder passes away. To make sure you keep your copyright, you need to discuss your options with a professional legal representative. You and your former spouse should sit down with a lawyer and discuss the future of the copyright in the case of someone’s death before it is too late.

Contact Us

At Slater, Kennon & Pugh LLP, our Austin divorce attorneys can help you every step of the way in your divorce case. Do not hesitate to call us today at 512-472-2431 to learn more about your rights.