Close

MEETING OPTIONS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS: The Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen understands your concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus, and now offers different meeting options to our clients and those seeking legal representation. All meetings, including initial consultations, can be handled either through the phone, FaceTime, Zoom, or in person.

Marital Debt

New Jersey law considers the assets and debts that a couple acquired while married to be marital property. In the event of a divorce, New Jersey law requires the “equitable distribution” of marital property, which means that the division of property must be fair, though it might not be equal. While the term ‘marital property’ may cause a person to think of tangible items, more frequently the ‘property’ that gets the most attention upon divorce is debt.

Factors in Determining How to Distribute Marital Debt

In determining the equitable distribution of marital property, New Jersey courts must consider certain factors that are described in New Jersey state law N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1. There are 16 factors listed in the statute, some of the factors are:

  1. The duration of the marriage
  2. The income or property brought to the marriage by each party
  3. The standard of living established during the marriage
  4. The income and earning capacity of each party
  5. The debts and liabilities of the parties

A New Jersey judge has the discretion to determine how to weigh each of the factors, and also has the ability to consider additional factors if he or she finds necessary. A judge will attempt to gain an understanding of the divorcing couple’s finances and circumstances of their marriage in order to make as fair a distribution as possible.

Specific Types of Marital Debt Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is a very common type of debt that must be distributed upon divorce. The general rule is that both spouses are liable for the debt that either spouse incurs during the marriage. In determining who to assign the debt to, a judge may take into account which spouse incurred the debt or which spouse benefited from the debt and may assign the full debt to that spouse.

Marital Home Debt (Mortgage)

If the spouses own a home during the marriage and has debt, it is usually the best course of action to sell the home and use the proceeds to pay off marital debt. If a couple has children and moving would detrimental to them, the home may be assigned to one spouse. In that case, the spouse that keeps the house will typically buy out the other spouse’s share of the home, though in some cases the couple may continue to co-own the home.

Separate Debt

Any separate debt that one spouse brings into the marriage remains that spouse’s debt after a divorce. Student loans are a common type of debt that are incurred by spouses before they get married. The judge will take into account the amount of each spouse’s separate debt in determining how much marital debt to assign to each spouse.

If you have any questions about the equitable distribution of marital debt, call the Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen at 201-845-7400 for a free initial consultation. His main office is located in Saddle Brook New Jersey and he has a number of meeting locations in Northern New Jersey.

Sources

Equitable Distribution Criteria - NJSA 2A:34-23.1


Client Reviews
★★★★★
Peter has integrity, and values his relationships with his clients beyond his financial relationship with them. For me to say this about any lawyer is really saying something. He is compassionate, straightforward and knowledgeable. I would easily recommend him to anybody. Lewie W.
★★★★★
Peter Van Aulen handled my case with great diligence and integrity. He is also a compassionate individual who realizes what a difficult time divorce can be emotionally. Peter works hard and doesn't take any shortcuts in preparing for a case… I highly recommend Mr. Van Aulen and his staff. Chuck Solomon
★★★★★
Peter is an exceptionally great attorney. He handled my child custody case and was able to ease any of my concerns with honest answers. He always took the time to explain the pros/cons and was always available to answer any questions that I had… I would highly recommend this attorney to anyone who is looking for one. Jessica Cruz
★★★★★
Peter Van Aulen is a very compassionate, honest and straightforward person. He was there for me at my lowest point with a genuine concern not only for my situation, but for me and my child's well being above all… He is fair and he is strong and when push comes to shove he is there for you. Cathy Dodge
★★★★★
Our cousin used Peter's law office to help with a sticky custody situation. He was extremely responsive, very nice and most importantly did an awesome job with the court! He is awesome. Lawrence Polsky
Contact Us