Opinion ID: 1486920
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Pennsylvania's Equitable Distribution Statute

Text: The Divorce Code requires a court first to categorize items of property as marital or nonmarital. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501(a). The statute, at Section 3501, defines marital property as: [A]ll property acquired by either party during the marriage, including the increase in value, prior to the date of final separation, of any nonmarital property acquired ... 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3501. Timing rather than the method of obtaining the property controls what is marital property under the Code and the statute presumes that property acquired during the marriage is marital. 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 3501(b). [6] See also Fidelity Bank v. Carroll, 416 Pa.Super. 9, 13, 610 A.2d 481, 483 (1992), aff'd, 539 Pa. 276, 652 A.2d 296 (1994) (property that either spouse gets during the marriage is presumed marital). Notwithstanding this definition, the Code lists eight classifications of property that are not marital, even though possessed during the parties' marriage. [7] These exceptions generally exclude property that a spouse owned before marriage or property he or she has acquired during the marriage, such as a gift or an inheritance. 23 Pa.C.S.A. 3501(a)(1) and (a)(2). The Code also excludes from marital property federal disability payments and proceeds from a settlement or award if the right to receive such award accrued outside the marriage. 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 3501(a)(6), (a)(8). Once the court defines the marital estate, it then divides the property according to the following enumerated factors of Section 3502: (1) The length of the marriage. (2) Any prior marriage of either party. (3) The age, health, station, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties. (4) The contribution by one party to the education, training or increased earning power of the other party. (5) The opportunity of each party for future acquisitions of capital assets and income. (6) The sources of income of both parties, including, but not limited to, medical, retirement, insurance or other benefits. (7) The contribution or dissipation of each party in the acquisition, preservation, depreciation or appreciation of the marital property, including the contribution of a party as homemaker. (8) The value of the property set apart to each party. (9) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage. (10) The economic circumstances of each party, including Federal, State and local tax ramifications, at the time the division of property is to become effective. (11) Whether the party will be serving as the custodian of any dependent minor children. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502.