New Sarpy Property Division Lawyer

Top Property Division Attorney in New Sarpy, LA

Louisiana is a 50/50 community property state, which means that marital assets and debts are divided equally upon divorce. What that looks like can vary depending on the specifics of your marriage. You can trust a New Sarpy property division lawyer to help you navigate this difficult aspect of dissolving your marriage.

Focused on
Results That
Matter

Schedule a Consultation

Work With Marino Law Firm, LLC

Marino Law Firm, LLC, was started in 1986 by Mark A. Marino, who has since been joined in his practice by his son, Orrin A. Marino. Mark A. Marino started his practice soon after graduating from Louisiana State University Law Center. In his decades in practice, he has developed a clear idea of what it takes to provide his clients with compassionate legal services and zealous representation.

Orrin A. Marino has been focused on family law since he began serving as a student practitioner in the Family Law Clinic at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He has extensive firsthand experience with the emotional and practical challenges faced by families during major life transitions. He takes a straightforward approach to protecting his clients’ assets and financial interests during property division.

Reasons to Hire a Property Division Lawyer

The median income in New Sarpy, Louisiana, was $51,989 in 2024, and the median property value was $95,700. If you’re concerned about keeping access to your family home or protecting your financial interests in a contentious divorce, you can hire a property division lawyer to help you make sure that your divorce agreement is fair and equitable. Property division works alongside spousal support as part of the financial side of your divorce.

Your New Sarpy property division attorney can:

• Classify community and separate property
• Value assets like real estate, retirement plans, and family businesses
• Protect your rights
• Uncover hidden assets
• Negotiate a fair agreement
• Litigate your case in court

We’re committed to helping you achieve your personal financial goals during this difficult time.

Louisiana Community Property Laws

Louisiana has relatively straightforward laws governing the division of marital property. If couples can’t agree on how to divide up property, their cases go to court at the St. Charles Parish Courthouse, where a judge assists in coming up with a fair, 50/50 split of assets and debts. 

While community property rules require that marital property be split evenly, that doesn’t require a perfect 50/50 split of every asset. Each spouse must receive an equal sum at the end of the divorce process, but that can be achieved via asset trades and other methods. 

If you have your heart set on keeping the family home, for example, you may need to trade other assets, such as retirement accounts, to make sure the overall split of property is still fair.

Community vs. Separate Property

Community property includes all assets and debts accumulated during the marriage. Common examples include:

• Property obtained by the efforts of either or both spouses
• Wages and other income
• The fruits of community property increased by the efforts of one or both spouses, such as retirement accounts and pensions.
• Property purchased with community funds
• Property given to both parties
• Settlements for a community injury

Not all property is marital property. Separate property includes:

• Property acquired with separate funds
• Property inherited by or given to one spouse personally
• Damages awarded for mismanagement of separate property
• Damages awarded by the other spouse for mismanagement of community property
• Items acquired by the spouse due to the voluntary partition of community property

If you’re not sure whether an asset or debt should be classified as community or separate property, we can help you make that determination.

FAQs

Can My Wife Take Half My Savings in a Divorce in New Sarpy, Louisiana?

In New Sarpy, whether your wife can take half your savings in a divorce depends on what percentage of your savings are considered community vs. separate funds. If you saved most of the money before getting married, the bulk of it would be considered separate and not subject to division upon divorce. If you saved all of it over the course of the marriage, your wife could take half of it because Louisiana is a 50/50 community property state.

What Assets Are Untouchable in a Divorce?

The assets that are untouchable in a divorce are separate. Separate assets include money, property, and other assets you acquired before the marriage or after your legal date of separation; gifts made to just one spouse; and inheritances. If you commingle separate funds with marital assets, they can become subject to division.

Can My Wife Take My House if I Bought It Before Marriage in Louisiana?

Your wife cannot generally take your house if you bought it before marriage in Louisiana because pre-marital property is considered separate property and is not subject to division. There are, however, certain factors that can give your spouse a financial claim or partial right to the home. This may be the case if you paid the mortgage with joint funds, used marital money to remodel or repair the home, or added her to the deed.

What Are Some Common Financial Mistakes People Make During Divorces in New Sarpy?

Some common financial mistakes people in New Sarpy make during divorces include: 

• Trying to hold onto the family home despite an inability to afford mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and property taxes on a single income
• Ignoring the tax consequences of asset trades
• Overlooking hidden assets or debts
• Failing to update beneficiaries. 
• Arguing over minor personal property out of spite, which can lead to high legal fees

Your New Sarpy Property Division Lawyer

Property division can be a contentious aspect of any divorce. Whether you’re concerned about protecting your general financial interests or retaining ownership of a specific piece of marital property, you can work with a New Sarpy property division lawyer to attain your goals.

The team here at Marino Law Firm, LLC, is here to help. We have decades of experience in handling family law matters, including divorce and property division. 

Let us leverage our extensive knowledge of property division laws to get you a positive outcome in your case. Contact us to schedule a consultation regarding your property division case today.