Opinion ID: 2067354
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ownership and Disposition of Property

Text: In Maryland, the authority of equity courts to adjust the property rights of spouses incidental to either an absolute or limited divorce derives solely from statutes. [15] Although during the 17th and 18th centuries, Maryland equity courts had an inherent authority to grant alimony, such courts had no authority to divide property of the spouses or to transfer the property of either spouse to the other, or to otherwise dispose of it. Lopez v. Lopez, 206 Md. 509, 514-15, 112 A.2d 466, 468-69 (1955); Gunter v. Gunter, 187 Md. 228, 232, 49 A.2d 454, 456 (1946). By ch. 262 of the Acts of 1841, [16] which remains virtually unchanged and is now found in Md.Code (1957, 1981 Repl. Vol., 1983 Cum.Supp.), Art. 16, § 25, the General Assembly authorized equity courts, incidental to either a limited or absolute divorce, to award the wife such property or estate as she had when she married. This right existed with respect to both real and personal property. Reed v. Reed, 109 Md. 690, 692-94, 72 A. 414, 414-15 (1909); Tyson v. Tyson, 54 Md. 35, 37 (1880); Tayman v. Tayman, 2 Md.Ch. 393, 394, 400-01 (1851); see Brucker v. Benson, 209 Md. 247, 250, 121 A.2d 230, 232 (1956). By ch. 220 of the Acts of 1947, [17] now Md.Code (1974, 1980 Repl.Vol.) § 3-6A-03 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, the General Assembly again expanded the authority of equity courts with respect to disposition of property incidental to divorce. It authorized such courts to decide any question between the parties in connection with the ownership of personal property, to divide such property between them, or to order a sale and divide the proceeds. That section, however, did nothing more than empower equity courts, incidental to an absolute or limited divorce, to determine the ownership of personal property and apportion it accordingly. It did not authorize such courts to transfer the personal property of either spouse to the other or to make an adjustment of personal property rights where the wife did not make a monetary contribution toward the purchase of the property. Brodak, 294 Md. at 12-13, 447 A.2d at 848; Wimmer v. Wimmer, 287 Md. 663, 667, 414 A.2d 1254, 1257 (1980); Gebhard v. Gebhard, 253 Md. 125, 130, 252 A.2d 171, 174 (1969); Lopez, 206 Md. at 515-17, 112 A.2d at 469. The authority of equity courts over real property remained restricted to a return to the wife of such property as the wife owned when she married. By ch. 794 of the Acts of 1978, now Md.Code (1974, 1980 Repl.Vol., & 1983 Cum.Supp.) §§ 3-6A-01 through 3-6A-08 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, the General Assembly again expanded the authority of equity courts with respect to the disposition of property incidental to divorce. Section 3-6A-03 [18] authorizes equity courts, incidental to either a limited or absolute divorce, to determine and state the ownership or ownership interest of each spouse in personal property and to order a sale of jointly-owned property and a division of the proceeds. That section expressly provides that in such cases equity courts may not transfer ownership of personal property from one spouse to the other. Section 3-6A-04, [19] for the first time, authorizes equity courts, incidental to an absolute divorce, to determine and state the ownership or ownership interest of each spouse in real property and to order a sale of jointly-held property and a division of the proceeds. Again, that section expressly provides that such an equity court may not transfer ownership of real property from one spouse to the other. Section 3-6A-05(a), for the first time, authorizes equity courts, incidental to an absolute divorce, to determine which property is marital property. [20] Most important, § 3-6A-05(b) authorizes equity courts to determine the value of all marital property and to grant a monetary award as an adjustment of the equities and rights of the spouses concerning marital property whether or not alimony is awarded. Section 3-6A-05(b) [21] enumerates a set of relevant factors to be considered in determining the amount of the monetary award including the award of any amount of alimony and the monetary and nonmonetary contribution of the spouses to the well-being of the family. Section 3-6A-05(c) authorizes a monetary award to be reduced to judgment to the extent that any part of the award was due and owing. Although §§ 3-6A-01 through 3-6A-08 do not permit the court to transfer personal or real property from one spouse to the other, the statute does permit the court for the first time to adjust the marital property interests of spouses fairly and equitably, giving careful consideration to both monetary and nonmonetary contributions to the marriage. Wimmer, 287 Md. at 667 n. 2, 414 A.2d at 1257 n. 2.