Who Gets the House?

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Who Gets the House?

For many couples, the marital home is one the largest assets in a divorce. And it is often one of the most emotional assets as well. It symbolizes so much. Having to move out of the home that you lived in can be devastating.

New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, which means that marital assets are divided in a way that is fair, but not necessarily completely equally. A home is considered marital property if it was bought during the marriage. A home may also be considered marital property if it was owned by one spouse prior to marriage and the other spouse’s name was added to the deed after marriage.

Often who gets the house has to do with who can afford the house. One spouse may be able to refinance the mortgage into his or her sole name. If you can’t afford the mortgage, you may be able to have the house in your name if your spouse pays you spousal support (alimony) or you receive enough other property as part of the equitable distribution to allow you to be able to pay the mortgage.

It is possible to continue to co-own the home until its value increases in the future at which time it can be sold. Some people agree to co-own the home until the children are grown and have moved out of the home.

If you and your ex are not in agreement about who should continue to live in the home, the court will consider who has custody of the children, who is currently living in the home, as well as the financial resources of each spouse and how the rest of the marital property is being split.

At DeTorres & DeGeorge your future is our focus. We are available to help you with all aspects of your divorce in Oldwick, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Call us to schedule a consultation at 908-284-6005.

Financial Divorce Guide
About DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law

DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law is a New Jersey based family law firm that has been helping New Jersey residents achieve the best possible results in their divorce for nearly 30 years. The DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law team is always ready to fight for their clients’ rights – determined to help New Jersey families overcome legal challenges from start to finish. Our legal team, with over 65 years of combined experience, provides expert guidance on all family law and divorce-related matters, including custody and parenting time, alimony and child support, equitable distribution of assets, premarital agreements, post-divorce issues, executive compensation distribution, divorces for business owners, and divorce mediation. The firm has been recognized for its dedication and expertise in the industry by multiple local and national organizations, including Super Lawyers, Law Firm 500, and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. Rosanne DeTorres, Managing Partner, is one of 150 lawyers certified as a matrimonial law attorney.

Caitlin DeGuilo Toker
Caitlin DeGuilo Toker joined DeTorres and DeGeorge as an associate attorney in June 2014 and was named a partner of the firm in May 2019.Prior to joining the firm, Caitlin was associated with law firms specializing in the practice of family ...
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