Blogs home A Family and Criminal Law Blog

I did the work, can he really take half my retirement?

Q. I got married in Kansas but worked and earned retirement in Missouri. Does my husband have legal rights to half my retirement if I file for divorce?

A. Retirement benefits are generally considered marital property and, as such, in Kansas the courts have the power to equitably divide marital property in a divorce. Where you worked, or even where you were married, will not matter when the court decides whether your soon-to-be ex-husband should get any portion of your retirement benefits. That doesn’t mean he will get half of the retirement. Before the Court can divide assets it will consider “evidence regarding changes in value of various assets before and after the valuation date in making the division of property.” In making the division of property the court is required to consider “the age of the parties; the duration of the marriage; the property owned by the parties; their present and future earning capacities; the time, source and manner of acquisition of property; family ties and obligations; the allowance of maintenance or lack thereof; dissipation of assets; the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective economic circumstances of the parties; and such other factors as the court considers necessary to make a just and reasonable division of property.” So, your lawyer may have many points to make in arguing you should keep all of your retirement benefits.

I hope this was helpful.

David J. Brown, Managing Attorney The Law Offices of David J. Brown, LC 1040 New Hampshire, Suite 14 Lawrence, Kansas 66044 785-842-0777

Because every legal situation is different, no response or comment in this blog can be considered legal advice to any one person, even the person who posed the original question that prompted a discussion because the answers will be generalized to provide basic information for all readers. Anyone with a real or potential legal problem should seek the advice of a practicing attorney who is educated and experienced in the area of law in question. Use of this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and The Law Office of David J. Brown, LC.

September 25, 2009

A Family and Criminal Law Blog