When it comes to getting a divorce in Florida, one issue that commonly arises is that of asset distribution. Which assets are solely yours, and which assets belong to both you and your spouse?

A non-marital asset is anything deemed to belong to just one individual. Non-marital assets are not subject to distribution during the dissolution of marriage.

A marital asset, on the other hand, is anything deemed to belong to both the husband and the wife. In the case of divorce, marital assets are fairly and justifiably distributed between both parties by Court.

In almost all marriages, one or both spouses have money and other assets before getting married - a saving account is one example. Throughout the course of their marriage, one or both spouses will work to earn and acquire more money and assets.

When a couple gets divorced, however, money and assets have been commingled, and dividing property can be difficult. In the context of divorce, “commingling”, meaning “to mix together”, occurs when the property one spouse had prior to the marriage is combined or mixed together with the other spouse’s separate property or is combined with the couple’s marital assets.

If you take the money from your checking account, for example, and add it to the joint account between you and your spouse, the money is considered commingled. The only way to claim a certain amount as your separate property is to trace the funds back to you with detailed records such as bank statements, deposit slips, withdrawal slips and the like.

When it comes to the comingling of marital funds, there is a presumption that the initial intention was that of a gift - and the asset then becomes a marital asset.

If you and your spouse are getting a divorce, it is essential to determine which assets are non-marital as early as possible, as these can substantially change the nature of the asset distribution. Seek the services of a experienced Florida divorce lawyer as soon as you can.