Ventura Property Division Attorney

The Necessity for Legal Representation

Dividing property during a divorce may seem as if it would be relatively straightforward. However, when you consider all that is involved, including pension plans and employment benefits, the family home or business, and costs associated with an educational degree, you start to realize the daunting task you face. However, with the assistance of a seasoned Ventura property division lawyer, the process becomes much more manageable. At Zahn Law Offices, APC, we can help.

The California Property Division Process

During the divorce process, couples are free to decide for themselves how to divide their property. If they are able to come to a consensus, the proposal is submitted to the judge for approval. However, if they are unable to come to an agreement, the matter will be taken to court.

There are three main concerns involved in the division of property:

• Clarifying which property is marital and which is separate
• Determining the value of the marital property
• Agreeing how to divide the shared property

Is CA a Fifty-Fifty State When It Comes To Divorce?

California is a community property state, which means that all marital property will be divided 50-50 by the court unless otherwise agreed upon by the divorcing spouses.

What Is Considered Marital Property in California?

In California, community property is everything that the spouses own together starting from the beginning of the marriage/domestic partnership, including debt but excluding gifts or inheritance. Property is any item that can be bought/sold or anything that has value, such as:

• A house;
• Car(s);
• Furniture;
• Clothing;
• Bank accounts and cash;
• Security deposits on apartments;
• Pensions or 401(k) plans;
• Stocks;
• Life insurance that has cash value;
• A business or a patent.

Who Gets the House in a California Divorce?

Determining who gets the house in a California divorce depends on the way the house was obtained. For example, if the spouses purchased the home together after marriage, it would be considered community property and thus owned by both parties equally. However, the situation could be more complicated if, for example, the title to a home purchased during marriage is in the name of one spouse only. Since each situation is different, it is best to consult with a Ventura property division lawyer about your specific case.

How Our Ventura Property Division Lawyer Can Help

Because most people do not plan for a divorce, it can be nearly impossible to distinguish which assets are communally owned and which are separate. Consider, for example, a spouse putting money into a retirement account both before and during the marriage, or, consider a spouse investing labor and funds into the business their partner owns.

In both cases, the property is partially communal and partially separate. Ascertaining how to split these mixed assets can become complicated very quickly. It is important to recruit a seasoned attorney to assist in this process. Ventura property division attorney Paul Zahn has over 15 years of experience and has been the recipient of several notable honors such as the Avvo Top Divorce Attorney Award. Make sure your assets are handled with care.