Two more factors considered in Equitable Distribution are the Value of the Marital Assets, as well as the Value of Separate Assets.

This blog is one in a series of blogs regarding Equitable Distribution in Mississippi.  Equitable Distribution is the method employed by the Court’s to determine how marital property is to be divided in a divorce.  The basics and factors to be considered can be seen here, Marital Property; How it’s Divided (click).

• The market value and the emotional value of the assets subject to distribution.

Market value most commonly refers to “Fair Market Value” or the value a willing buyer, under no compulsion to buy, would pay a willing seller.  Assets subject to distribution means any and all assets accumulated during the course of the marriage due to the efforts of the parties.

For accounts and investments it is typically the value of those investments.  Your savings account has $7,650.00 in it = it’s worth $7,650.00.  Your home’s value would normally be determined by an appraisal.  There is also a fair amount of nuance that comes into play when determining the FMV of assets and the parties and their hired professionals can disagree on values.  Additionally, not everything is valued using FMV.  A business owned by a party in a divorce is valued using a “Net Asset” based approach, but that is an “exciting” blog for another day!

Emotional value or sentimental value is an intangible value or one that cannot be easily assessed.  Having made all of those disclaimers, the court considers emotional value when determining who gets what and if you really, really want that Hoosier cabinet you will probably get it, but she may end up with an offset for a portion of the value of the Hoosier.

• The value of assets not ordinarily, absent equitable factors to the contrary, subject to such distribution, such as property brought to the marriage by the parties and property acquired by inheritance or inter vivos gift by or to an individual spouse;

Assets not ordinarily subject to equitable distribution are the non-marital assets.  These include assets acquired by inheritance, by gift (inter vivos just means a gift while living, as opposed to a gift via a will) or by efforts prior to the marriage.  So while these assets may very well be separate, the value is still relevant for divorce purposes.  Separate estate plays a role in dividing the assets and it also plays a role in the Court’s determination of alimony.  A significant separate estate may result in you getting less out of the marriage than someone similarly situated with no separate estate, but it’s still a good problem to have.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and recommends you have your property appraised.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@wmtlawfirm.com.