Legal Question in Family Law in Florida
what would be my legal obligation to my wife if we divorced. I owned my home before we were married. I have purchased 2 vehicles since we were married, both in my name. i also have a checking/savings acct in my name only. we both paid for all furnishings in the house. I pay all the bills and food and gas for both vehicles. My wife works part-time and i work full-time.
1 Answer from Attorneys
That's too big a question for an online forum like this, but I can give you some general rules:
If you owned property before you got married, you generally get to keep it. With houses, it can be a little different, since you may have used marital funds to pay off part of it. She may get some small part of the house, but how much depends on which jurisdiction in Florida you file.
All assets and debts that occurred after the day you got married get split evenly, regardless of whose name they are in, who bought them, who charged them, who earned what money, etc.
There may be alimony, but it usually depends on how long you've been married (at least ten or twelve years in a Tampa Bay area divorce, fifteen to twenty elsewhere). Other things, like disability or need to complete an education can cause alimony in a shorter marriage.
If there are kids, there will almost certainly be child support, even if custody is 50/50.