Finances During a Divorce: How Much Money Can I “Hide?”

SAN DIEGO DIVORCE LAWYERS

Finances During a Divorce: How Much Money Can I “Hide?”

Money and divorce

One of the most common questions during a divorce is how much money a man can “hide” from his spouse. This does not mean illegally hiding funds; rather, it usually means how much money a man can keep for his personal use without the courts viewing it as an attempt to deprive his wife and children of their support.

Of course, this does happen. Some men try to force their wives to come back to them by withholding support. This rarely works and in fact tends to backfire in court. It is likely that a woman with children can get a judge to order you to pay temporary support, so it is usually better to make arrangements to pay the bills yourself as part of a temporary agreement.However, that does not mean that you should be deprived of your own comfort and basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. You have rights as a spouse, as well, and the Men’s Legal Center attorneys may be able to help you exercise them and protect your assets during the divorce process.

Mine, Hers and Ours

California is what is known as a community property state. This means that, according to Sections 760 and 771 of the California Family Code, any property acquired during a valid marriage becomes community property. If the couple has signed a prenuptial agreement, the court normally follows those guidelines. However, if there is no prenup, the court will divide the marital property based on earnings, expenses and other factors. This means that there may not be a 50/50 split; one partner may end up with more property than the other.

Some property is exempt from the community property statutes. For example, property that is inherited by one spouse is often exempt from the community property statute, as is property that was owned prior to a marriage. However, there are many exceptions to these rules, so it is important to get the advice of a divorce attorney before making any financial decisions.

The attorneys at The Men’s Legal Center can help you find ways to deal with the financial reality of a divorce. Their advice and guidance may help you to make good decisions regarding your divorce settlement and ultimately keep more of your hard-earned money. Contact the Men’s Legal Center today to learn how they can help you in your divorce process.

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