How To Hide Money From Spouse During A Divorce
The bottom line is that if youre getting divorced, its going to cost you. The good news is, it doesnt have to cost you as much as you may think.
There are ways to legally hide money from your spouse during a divorce. Review the tips in this article and put them into play.
They say that divorce is one of the most devastating things youll ever go through. And while we cant help you protect your emotional well-being, we can certainly help protect your financial well-being.
Dividing And Protecting Your 401k In A Divorce
On Behalf of Sarah Wright | Dec 22, 2020 | Property Division
During a divorce, much attention is given to how a couple will split up their joint assets. Each person may also focus a lot of energy on what they want to keep or how they can maintain as much of their savings as possible.
When it comes to dividing a retirement plan like a 401K account, the use of a qualified domestic relations order may well help spouses both divide and protect the assets in the fund.
You Have Time To Sort Things Out
In North Carolina, theres no way to get through a divorce quickly. You have to live separately from your spouse for at least one full year before an absolute divorce will be granted. If youre ready to move on, that can seem like a long time. But it also gives you time to plan your strategy and negotiate with your spouse before the divorce is finalized.
Once you know for sure that youre going to be getting divorced, you should contact an experienced attorney and start getting your documents together. Your 401 account might have certain restrictions, and its important to understand how everything is set up before you start to worry about how to keep your contributions.
You have time to figure things out and to forge a cooperative relationship with your ex. Giving them a little time to cool off if things have gotten heated can help. Remember, its always better to work together if you can.
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How Do I Know How To Best Divide The 401k In My Divorce
The best way to divide accounts in your divorce is going to be based on your financial situation. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. It is best to consult with your financial advisor and/or tax professional to determine what is in your best interest. A CDFA , who has specialized training in divorce financial planning can be especially helpful. A CDFA can help you make the right decisions when dividing your 401K and other assets in a divorce.
What Is Equitable Property Division
Because Colorado is an equitable distribution state, property is divided equitably or fairly rather than equally. Property division occurs at permanent orders, which is usually the final hearing in your case. The Judge will consider several factors to determine how to fairly divide your assets and then decide who gets what.
Most importantly, Colorado courts are not permitted to consider marital fault when dividing assets. The term marital fault refers to acts that contributed to the divorce, such as having an affair, lying, or being abusive. While these factors may impact parenting, they are not permitted to be considered when dividing property.
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Prenuptial Agreements Protect Retirement Accounts
A prenuptial agreement is the easiest protection method because it allows a couple to establish marital and nonmarital property prior to getting married. Marital property is subject to division during divorce but nonmarital assets are not. A family law attorney can help an individual draft a prenuptial agreement stating that the 401k will be considered a nonmarital asset should the couple divorce. The document can also specify that 401k contributions during the marriage are nonmarital property.
Unfortunately, many couples enter marriage without considering the possibility of divorce so they do not draft prenuptial agreements. Fortunately, there are still ways to avoid dividing retirement in divorce. Contact a family law attorney immediately after deciding to divorce and ask when state divorce laws will allow voluntary 401k contributions to cease. It can take months or years to finalize a divorce and all 401k contributions made during this time will be considered marital property in divorce.
What Happens If Your Spouse Wants To Withdraw All The Money From The 401 Before The Divorce Is Over With
Suppose that you and your spouse are in your sixties. Your spouse can thus access his 401 without incurring a penalty. You have learned that he plans to do just that. What can you do to protect this money and to ensure that he doesn’t drain the account before you have an opportunity to negotiate for its division?
Fortunately for you, most counties in southeast Texas have either standing orders or an opportunity to negotiate for temporary orders. These are orders set forth by the court that ensure that both sides have a chance to play nice in the sandbox with the other party. The standing orders/temporary orders will maintain the status quo during the divorce so that large sums of money are not spent and retirement accounts are not drained.
If your spouse violate one of the orders in a temporary order or standing order, then you are subject to consequences to be determined by the judge. Enforcing temporary orders and standing orders is hopefully not something you have to do during your divorce, but it is an option if your spouse begins to draw from the 401. They may be wasting community assets that carry with them penalties of their own.
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Should You Cash Out A 401k In A Divorce
Am I suggesting that retirement plans are a good source of cash when going through a divorce? Let me be clear. No, I am not suggesting that at all. I simply want to share that if you have a cash need and it makes the most sense to take it from a retirement account, the IRS does allow you to take money from a 401K without penalty.
Keep in mind, though, if the funds are in a pre-tax account, they will still be taxable when withdrawn. The plan administrator will withhold taxes when the distribution is made. However, it may not be enough to cover your tax liability, depending on your marginal tax rate, so youll want to plan accordingly.
How Will A 401k And Divorce Settlement Happen
When there is a 401 involved in a divorce settlement, there has to be a court order to do this. In other words, a judge has to agree to a Qualified Domestic Relations Order or QDRO. This states that each spouse is going to get some of the money from the 401 plan.
This is the best way for a 401 plan to be split between the spouses. The reason for this is that when there is a QDRO, you are not going to have to pay the penalty for withdrawing the money early.
Alternatively, the spouses might agree that the person receiving money from the 401 plan will wait. This can mean that there is going to be no penalty to pay. But, this will only be a share of the money contributed during the marriage and not after the divorce has been settled.
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Negotiating In A Divorce
It is possible to discuss and negotiate the 401 plan with your partner during a divorce. For example, if you are using mediation, this can be a topic that you can discuss. Perhaps there is an agreement you can make when it comes to the 401 plan. Your partner may understand and agree that this is your money. You could make a deal regarding something else.
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Offer Another Asset
For example, you may be able to talk to your partner and negotiate that they do not get any money from the 401 plan. Instead, they can get another asset in the divorce. If this is the case, then you should make sure that this exchange is legally binding and in writing. Namely, it should be part of a divorce settlement. Alternatively, it can be in agreement documents that are signed by both parties. This way, they cannot claim the money later on.
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Need for Mediation
One thing that you cannot do is tell your partner that they cannot touch your 401 plan. This is going to cause animosity during meditation proceedings. This should be a time for you to negotiate and be fair. Mediation can be a successful process when you make just decisions with your partner. You should not demand that they leave your 401 plan alone, as this will not have the outcome you are looking for.
Choosing A North Carolina Divorce Attorney
If youre worried about retaining your 401 account and other assets in the divorce process, the best way to set yourself up for success is to contact an experienced North Carolina divorce lawyer right away. The sooner you get in contact with expert counsel, the better. Your lawyer will be able to help you create a plan for your case and get all the necessary documentation together.
For your own peace of mind, its important to work with someone who has handled lots of different divorce cases and has seen it all. Whether you end up settling your divorce through mediation or you end up standing before a judge in the courtroom, you will need the help of a lawyer. Our experienced family and divorce attorneys in Raleigh are standing by to help you protect your assets. Call 919-367-1512 today to speak with an expert.
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How A Lawyer Can Help
Washington law makes the QDRO a fairly complex, time-sensitive document with specific language requirements and deadlines to submit to the court. If you stand to receive a portion of your ex-spouses retirement or pension benefits, you will most likely need a QDRO in order to receive these benefits. Consulting with an experienced family law attorney about your situation is an important first step.
What Is A Qualified Domestic Relations Order
A qualified domestic relations order is a court order used to divide retirement assets in employer-sponsored plans such as 401s, 403s, or traditional pension plans. A QDRO must comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act , which governs these type of plans. IRAs are divided using a process known as transfer incident to divorce, while the division of assets in the TSP requires a retirement benefits court order .
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But Its Mine What Makes My Retirement Account Marital Property
Your 401 isnt just your nest egg. While youre married, the court treats the money you earn from your 401 to be jointly owned. After all, youre married. You agreed to live with your spouse and to share a life together. When you put away money, youre setting it aside for you and your family. You save for retirement, so that you and your wife can live off of the money when youre older. You save for your family, not yourself.
In Virginia, from the time you get married until youre legally separated, the earnings from your 401 are usually jointly owned. That is, your retirement funds are usually not just yours, theyre partially your wifes as well.
How Are 401s Typically Split During A Divorce
Any funds contributed to the 401 account during the marriage are marital property and subject to division during the divorce, unless there is a valid prenuptial agreement in place. For example, if you were married for five years and during that time you contributed $50,000 to your retirement account or pension plan, your spouse would likely be entitled to a 50% share or $25,000.
Keep in mind that whether or not your spouse ends up with part, all, or none of your 401 depends on how your overall marital assets are split. For example, if your spouse also has a retirement account worth a similar amount, you may each decide to keep your own accounts.
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Rollovers And Comingling Of Retirement Assets
Another question frequently asked regarding premarital retirement assets is What happens in a divorce if I rolled over my premarital 401k plan into an IRA during my marriage?
If no contributions were made to the 401k or the rollover IRA during the marriage, the rollover IRA is not subject to equitable distribution. If contributions were made during the marriage, then a portion of the rollover IRA would be marital and subject to equitable distribution. The assistance of an accountant can be beneficial in differentiating the premarital portion of the IRA from the marital portion. Choosing an attorney who works collaboratively with such accountants for this purpose is important.
In other situations, the other spouses name may have been added to the IRA during the marriage. In that instance, the asset may be deemed by the court to have been commingled, meaning that premarital funds were blended with marital funds, therefore making a substantially greater portion, or all, of the asset subject to equitable distribution.
Do I Get Half My Husbands 401 In A Divorce
No matter what age you are, it is worth your while to consider what you want your life to look like when you reach retirement age. For some of you who are reading this blog, post-retirement may be the farthest thing from your mind. For others, retirement may be a reality that is right around the corner. Whatever season in life you find yourself in, know that you should be planning for your retirement with as much attention as you can muster. Not all of us earn the same income, but it is possible to act intentionally towards retirement goals with the income that you do have.
This is true in the midst of a divorce, as well. Just because you have other issues that appear to be more pressing doesn’t mean that you can neglect consideration of what is happening with your retirement accounts during your divorce. If you haven’t done so in a while, go ahead and check up on your 401. I bet you will be surprised to learn how much more money there is in there than you had even a few months ago. The reality that you are facing is that the effort it took to build that account into what it is today could be wiped out in a divorce.
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Happily Married Maybe Plan Ahead Anyway
If you think your relationship can survive a discussion like this, consider talking about how you would divide your assets, should you ever need to. One way to settle these issues is to create a postnuptial agreement. These are enforceable in most places but should be done carefully to fit your states lawsand some states may not accept them. Use an attorney to make sure that it works.
If you are still at the planning-to-get-married stage, a prenuptial agreement may be the most straightforward way to protect your retirement assets if you eventually split up. Just be sure to include plans for how these assets can be divided, and leave some room for adjustments that could benefit you both depending upon your circumstances at the time of divorce. Prenups are especially useful if one or both of you has children from a previous marriage or relationship.
If You Take Your Divorce To Court
Sometimes, theres just no way to settle a divorce through mediation. In these cases, you will need the help of an attorney more than ever. They will represent you and build a case with you to present to the court.
Even if your divorce case does make it to court, its important to take the high road. Keeping your emotions in check will help you make a good impression on the judge. You and your lawyer need to have a clear strategy and go over each asset type thoroughly, including your 401 before your day in court. Be prepared!
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Distribution Options Are Limited
Spouses on the receiving end of a 401 distribution after a divorce have three basic options for getting the money. The first option is to roll the assets over into your own qualified retirement plan by requesting a direct transfer. This allows you to avoid having to pay a penalty on the money.
Another option is to defer taking a distribution until the account owner retires. If you decide to wait, you could either choose to take regular payments or get a lump sum. If you leave the money in the plan, youll have to begin taking required minimum distributions starting at age 70.5 to avoid a penalty.
You can cash out your portion of the balance as well. This gives you the greatest access to the money, but it can be costly. If you havent reached age 59.5 at the time of the payout, you might have to pay income taxes on it along with a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
Ks Established And Funded Prior To The Marriage
If the 401k account was established prior to the marriage, state divorce laws may permit exclusion of pre-marital contributions and earnings. The owner will receive these funds and only contributions made during the marriage will be subject to division. In this situation, it is important to maintain detailed records regarding the account so its pre-marital value can be established.
With proper planning and good recordkeeping, it is possible to protect some or all of the 401k account from property division in divorce. Retaining a family law attorney prior to getting married or consulting one promptly after deciding to end the marriage prevents a 401k account holder from losing half of the funds during divorce. Retirement years will be happy and comfortable, not filled with financial worry. The only sure fire way to know that a proper division of retirement accounts has taken place and too little or not enough divided is to work with a local expert family law attorney that understands the different possibilities that exist.
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