Mediate Michigan

“It Zigs, It Zags . . .” Even the typically exacting New York Times had a hard time describing the stock market’s wild swings last week.

Without question, the volatility on Wall Street has us all a bit on-edge about the health of our investments. But for a woman going through divorce the anxiety can be particularly acute. How will declines in the stock market affect her divorce settlement agreement? What impact will portfolio losses have on her long-term financial well-being?

Now that everyone’s attention is focused on the ups and downs of the market, I think the timing is perfect for a quick primer on how stocks are divided during divorce. Here are a few things you need to keep top-of-mind:

1. Separate vs. marital property

Remember that some of your assets might be considered separate property, while most others are considered marital property. States differ in some of the details, but typically, separate property is:

• Property that was owned by either spouse prior to the marriage

via What a Volatile Stock Market May Mean for a Woman’s Divorce Settlement Agreement – Forbes.