However, in an Equitable Distribution state, it may not be fair to exclude your spouse from sharing in the value of the house, especially if your spouse has helped pay the mortgage or has made improvements in the house. Also, if you bought the house specifically in contemplation of the marriage and the title just never got transferred into joint names, a court will usually find that it was intended to be a marital asset and will probably give your spouse a fair share. There are also assets that do not have a physical existence. These are known as intangible assets. Usually one of the most significant assets to divide is your real property.
Real property is essentially land and all the things that are attached to it.
If you own your own home, you own real property. Anything that is not real property is personal property and personal property is anything that isn't nailed down, dug into or built onto the land. Thus, your house is part of your real property, but your dining room set is not. Most states don't consider professional degrees and licenses as marital property, although if you have supported your spouse and put him or her through school, you may be entitled to some form of reimbursement that will give you back the investment that you made in your spouse's future. However, some states, such as New York, do consider a professional license an asset, and in New York a spouse will be entitled to a share of its value.