Income or Asset? Avoid the Double Dip

Oftentimes when getting divorced, an asset the generates income can either be considered in equitable distribution or in support. For example, if you receive stock options as part of your employment, they are considered an asset for purposes of divorce. If you cash them in during the divorce, it will either be considered an asset for income, but not both. If you have a pension that accumulated during the marriage and it goes into pay status during the divorce, or if it is already in pay status at the time of the divorce, it may be considered an asset or income but not both. You need to be careful that if you have a support order that the income from that pension or the stock option is not considered into the incomes if you want to have that asset considered an asset for equitable distribution. You need to be very careful that any support order entered specifically states whether any of the income was included, and if so, how much.

Sometimes, an asset may be a hybrid of a marital asset and non-marital asset. For example, a pension may include a portion of non-marital years and a portion that is marital. In that instance, you need to weigh whether it is better to include the entire pension income, or whether you want to include the non-marital portion income and include the marital portion as an asset for equitable distribution. Since you often receive more in equitable distribution than you do in support, oftentimes, the person who is entitled to a share of the pension or a share of the stock option will want to consider it in equitable distribution instead of support. Either way, be very clear in any agreements or order, which is so that there is no double dip if you are paying and that there is no argument it was already included if it was not considered.