Division of Debt in Florida Divorces

While finances play a significant role in why couples divorce, they can also be a contentious matter during the divorce process itself. As couples agree on dividing property and assets and paying child support and alimony, one often overlooked aspect of financial decisions in a divorce has to be debt division. Who is responsible for the mortgage loan? What happens to credit card debt? What if one spouse secretly took on debts without the other one knowing?

At Owenby Law, P.A., we can ensure that you receive a fair distribution of the marital assets and liabilities. If you have questions about Florida divorce and debt division, contact our Jacksonville divorce lawyers for a free initial consultation.

Equitable Distribution Laws in Florida

There are currently nine states which operate under community property laws, in which each spouse equally owns all income and assets earned or acquired during the couple’s marriage. Even if only one spouse was working during the marriage, the money is still equally split. However, Florida and the rest of the United States operate under the laws of equitable distribution.

In an equitable distribution state, property acquired during the marriage belongs to the spouse who earned it, and all assets and liabilities are divided in a fair and equitable manner during a divorce. In order to make a determination regarding equitable division of assets and liabilities, the court determines which assets are “marital” and which are considered “non-marital.” Simply put, assets brought into the marriage are non-marital assets, while those acquired during the marriage are marital assets—including debt.

Factors Considered When Dividing Debt

The court will attempt to divide all the couple’s debt (marital assets) equally, while assigning responsibility for payment to each spouse for any non-marital debts.

Once responsibility is assigned, the other person has their name removed from the account, otherwise there is a risk that the creditor may come after the non-liable spouse for payment. If factors such as adultery or other bad behaviors contributed to the dissipation of marital assets, the judge may equalize those expenditures during the division of debt.

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

If you have questions about dividing pension benefits in divorce, contact our Jacksonville divorce lawyers at Owenby Law, P.A. We can provide the legal representation and guidance you need to ensure that you are protected.