Don't Overlook Important Assets In Your Divorce

By Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP®

Question:

My husband and I have drawn up a list of what we own and we have tentatively agreed on how to split everything. I'm afraid we might have missed listing something. Can you help?

Answer:

As a financial divorce consultant, I often review final property settlements to determine additional tax and financial considerations that should be addressed. Here are some areas that are often overlooked.

Frequent Flyer Points

To split these, have free tickets issued in the other spouse's name, or value the travel benefits and compensate the other spouse.

Vacation Pay

Value accumulated vacation hours based on the spouse's pay rate. Sick pay for which the employee will be compensated now or later may also is valued.

Tax Refunds

If you file a joint tax return, tax refunds will be sent in both names. Your divorce agreement should split.

Stock Options

If your spouse has the right to purchase the employer's stock at a bargain price sometime in the future, he can keep the option and give the non-employee spouse an offsetting asset, or they can agree to exercise the option jointly in the future.

Prepaid Insurance

All insurance is paid for in advance, including life, disability and casualty. These prepayments should be considered when property is being valued and divided.

Magazine Subscriptions and Professional Dues

Discounts are offered for two and three-year memberships and subscriptions, and a spouse preparing for divorce may make substantial prepayments from community funds to avoid future expenditures from his separate funds.

Timeshares

A resort timeshare is often worth less than the amount still owed on it. In that case, the divorcing couple must decide whether one of them will accept it at a lesser value, continue to own it jointly, sell it or let it go into foreclosure.

Article by Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP®
Co-founder of WIFE.org and MoneyClubs.com, and originator of the acclaimed Second Saturday program

Property & Finances