Marital Property Doctrine

The Marital Property Doctrine is a legal principle used in divorce proceedings to determine how property owned by a couple is divided. Generally, it categorizes property acquired during the marriage as "marital property," which is usually divided equitably, meaning fairly but not necessarily equally. Property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance may be considered separate property and typically remains with the original owner. This doctrine aims to acknowledge both partners' contributions to the marriage, ensuring a just distribution of shared assets when the relationship ends.