Law Articles

Return to Law Dictionary Index

DC Property Distribution Laws

In DC divorce, marital property is divided in any manner which the Court deems "equitable" Each party will be entitled to retain as his or her separate property any items or assets acquired before the marriage or acquired by gift or inheritance. In equitably dividing marital property, the Court will consider:

• the contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of each spouse as homemaker;

• the length of the marriage;

• the occupation of the spouses;

• the vocational skills of the spouses;

• the employability of the spouses;

• the estate, liabilities, and needs of each spouse and the opportunity of each for further acquisition of capital assets and income;

• the assets and debts of the spouses;

• any prior marriage of each spouse;

• whether the property award is in stead of or in addition to alimony;

• any custodial provisions for the children;

• the age and health of the spouses; and

• the amount and sources of income of the spouses .

The Court will not consider marital fault in dividing marital assets and property in a DC divorce.

Return to Family Law

Return to Law Dictionary Index