Property Division

Property Division and Community Property in Washington State

Washington is one of only a few community property states in the country. In a divorce, most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are considered community property and are subject to division. However, property division in Washington is not always a strict 50/50 split.

At DuBois Levias Law Group, our Seattle property division attorneys help clients protect their financial interests during divorce, including complex and high-asset cases involving businesses, investments, retirement accounts, and real estate.

Washington courts consider several factors when dividing marital property, including:

• Length of the marriage
• Income and earning capacity of each spouse
• Nature and value of marital and separate property
• Future financial circumstances of each party
• Overall fairness and financial stability after divorce

In some cases, courts may award a disproportionate share of assets to one spouse to help balance economic circumstances after the divorce.

What Is Community Property?

Community property, also called marital property, generally includes assets and debts acquired during the marriage. This may include:

• Homes and real estate
• Retirement and investment accounts
• Business interests and professional practices
• Stocks and bonuses
• Shared debts and liabilities

Separate property can sometimes become commingled with marital assets, making property characterization more complicated than it first appears.

Complex and High-Asset Property Division

Property division becomes significantly more complex in high-net-worth divorces involving business owners, medical professionals, executives, and individuals with substantial or diverse assets.

Our attorneys work closely with financial experts, accountants, and business valuation professionals to accurately assess and divide complex marital estates. We assist clients with matters involving:

• Business valuation and division
• Professional practices
• Real estate holdings
• Retirement accounts and stock options
• Inheritance and separate property claims
• Executive compensation and retention bonuses

At DuBois Levias Law Group, we combine extensive courtroom experience with strategic financial analysis to help clients pursue fair and practical property division outcomes throughout Washington State. Contact us for the help you need.