Opinion ID: 2402348
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Alliance Oil Well

Text: Rosemarie also contends that her interest in the Alliance oil well was a premarital gift not subject to distribution. As he did with the jewelry, the general magistrate included Rosemarie's interest in the Alliance oil well in the marital estate and distributed its value as part of her 20 percent share. As noted previously, if a valid gift was made to Rosemarie before the parties married, that gift should not have been included as part of the estate subject to distribution. Under § 15-5-16.1(b), that gift would be property held in the name of one of the parties before the marriage, which is excluded from distribution. Lance does not dispute that he gave Rosemarie her interest in the Alliance oil well before the marriage; nor does the record provide any indication that she was given less than full control over this overriding royalty interest. That property, therefore, was a valid premarital gift and should not have been included in the overall valuation of the marital estate.