Equitable Distribution

Pennsylvania law calls for an equitable distribution of marital property when couples divorce. But equitable does not always mean equal, and things can get intense when you are both competing for certain assets or you believe you will be deprived of your fair share.

Our attorneys at Anderson, Leech & Long bring experience and creativity to divorce proceedings and the sticky issues of property division. They strive for an amenable settlement that makes financial sense for you, yet they are veteran trial lawyers who can fight for you in court to safeguard your interests, if necessary.

What Is Equitable Distribution?

Pennsylvania’s divorce statute says that a married couple’s property will be divided – without regard to marital misconduct – in a manner that the court deems to be fair and just. It’s not necessarily a 50-50 split. The court considers each of your assets separately and decides how they will be distributed. Factors that the judge may consider include:

• The length of the marriage and any prior marriages
• The parties’ ages, health, incomes, personal assets and employable skills
• Contributions to either spouse’s education or earning capacity
• Each spouse’s future prospects to earn and acquire assets
• Sources of income, including retirement funds, Social Security, medical and/or insurance benefits
• Contributions to or dissipation of marital property
• Any separate property set aside for each party
• The standard of living during the marriage
• Their economic circumstances at the date of divorce
• Immediate and future tax considerations
• Primary custody of minor children

As you can see, there is a lot to unpack in equitable distribution. Our lawyers make sure that the court has accurate information about income and the value of assets. Whenever possible, our team encourages clients to reach an out-of-court property settlement rather than further draining the estate through litigation or taking the chance that a judge may shortchange them.

Your Fair Share In Property Division

Our lawyers are skilled at the trade-offs, offsets and creative problems-solving to balance the equation and protect your financial stake. They take your circumstances and your goals into account when finding solutions that address:

• The marital home and its equity
• Retirement accounts and investments
• Vehicles and valuables
• Joint debts
• Ownership interest in a business

Our core clients are middle-income families that have more at stake than they realize. However, our lawyers also have extensive backgrounds representing high earners or their spouses in complex and high-asset divorces. They welcome anyone seeking extraordinary representation at reasonable rates.