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Community Property

Skilled Arizona Lawyer Handles Community Property Disputes

Accomplished Tempe law firm seeks fair resolutions for divorcing spouses in the Tempe area

Arizona is a community property state, which means that divorcing couples are required to split the value of their marital property equally. It does not matter which party acquired the asset or earned the money to do so. At Suzette Lorrey-Wiggs, P.C., I provide the legal guidance you need to protect your rights and secure a fair property settlement in your divorce. With substantial experience, I am a strong advocate for clients in the Tempe area and throughout Arizona during negotiations and in court.

Knowledgeable counselor advises on questions regarding marital property

At Suzette Lorrey-Wiggs, P.C., I give clients comprehensive information concerning the division of assets and debts in a divorce. In this jurisdiction, community property is designed to encompass almost any type of asset that is accumulated by a married couple. Items that can be considered community property include:

  • Houses, cars, boats, clothing, furniture
  • Copyrights, patents, trademarks
  • Bank accounts, stocks, life insurance that has cash value
  • Businesses

However, there are items that are not considered community property for the purposes of division following a divorce. These may include:

  • Assets acquired before marriage — Community property law does not apply to inheritances and property acquired before the marriage and kept separate during the marriage — for example, funds from a trust that was left to you from your mother’s estate and that you kept in a separate bank account from your spouse or domestic partner throughout the entire duration of the marriage or partnership.
  • Items covered by prenuptial agreements — Couples with prenuptial agreements can avoid community property division by setting forth their own terms in writing before marrying or entering into a domestic partnership.
  • Mixed community and separate property — commingling — It can be difficult to distinguish between community property and separate property. The most common problem is with pension plans. If a pension plan or retirement account was started before the marriage and contributions continued to be made to it throughout the marriage or partnership, it can be difficult to divide. The contributions made before marriage might be considered separate property while those contributions made during the marriage are considered community property. I can advise you about how such gray areas are handled under Arizona law.

At Suzette Lorrey-Wiggs, P.C., I deliver strong counsel when issues arise relating to asset valuation and classification. I assert clients’ rights effectively no matter how complex or contentious the divorce might be.

Contact an experienced Arizona attorney for community property counsel

At Suzette Lorrey-Wiggs, P.C., I make it my business to get you through this trying time as smoothly as possible. For help with community property division in your divorce, call me at 480-390-7615 or contact me online for a consultation at my Tempe office.

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Office Location
  • Tempe Office
    600 E. Baseline Rd.
    Suite A-4
    Tempe, Arizona 85283
    Phone: 480-390-7615
    Fax: 480-383-6636