What Are My Rights If I Leave The Marital Home?

February 19, 2022

What Are My Rights If I Leave The Marital Home?

Going through a divorce is rarely easy. While amicable divorces do happen, most divorces involve a variety of concerns that need to be addressed, including what will happen with the marital home. Most couples going through a divorce will not want to continue living together while waiting for the process to finish. However, many individuals who are going through a divorce may wonder, โ€œwhat are my rights if I leave the marital home?โ€

Moving out of the family home can impact a divorce in several different ways, and in varying degrees depending on the family. At Johnson Law Group, we help guide our clients through each step of the divorce process. You can learn more about the implications of moving out during a divorce by contacting Johnson Law Groupโ€™s experienced divorce lawyers at (720) 463-4333.

Can You Lose Your Rights To the Marital Home if You Move Out?

Moving out of the marital home may or may not affect a spouseโ€™s legal claim to the property in future divorce proceedings in Colorado. However, divorce laws vary from state to state. According to the Colorado Domestic Matters Laws, family courts must divide all marital property in an equitable manner, not necessarily an equal one. For example, the spouse who earns more money may be entitled to a larger portion of the estate based on their income.

Family courts will attempt to determine which assets are โ€œmaritalโ€ and which are separate property. Anything that was purchased by either spouse during the marriage is considered marital property. The family home is almost always considered marital property, especially if it was purchased after the marriage. The court will attempt to reach a ruling on the division of all marital assets, along with childcare responsibilities and financial resources. Family courts are usually not concerned with the possession or title of assets, and in many cases, the court will order the home to be sold and for the sale money to be divided for handling marital debts.

It is important to note that even if the marital home is divided equally for financial purposes, moving out of the marital home may impact the decision of the judge regarding whether or not to let you have the property. Visiting with an experienced family law attorney can help you ensure your legal rights are protected in your specific circumstance.

The Family Home in Divorces Involving Children

Parents who are going through a divorce may wonder, โ€œWhat are my rights if I leave the marital home and I have children?โ€ While some states have โ€œabandonmentโ€ laws that can be used against a spouse who moves out of the marital home, these laws only apply in at-fault divorce states. However, even though Colorado is a no-fault state, parents going through a divorce must still be careful to ensure that their leaving the family home is not later characterized as abandonment in child custody proceedings.

Avoiding Allegations of Child Abandonment

One parent leaving the family home can be emotionally damaging to minor children if there is no parenting plan in place. Before leaving the family home, it is usually wise for parents to work together to create a new parenting plan that they will follow while separated and going through the divorce process. This may not always be easy, as parents may disagree on certain aspects of the plan.

Parents who leave the marital home can also avoid being accused of child abandonment by continuing to provide financial support to their minor children, paying for any household bills that remain under their name, and remaining actively involved in their childrenโ€™s lives through scheduled parenting time. Additionally, it may be wise to speak with an experienced divorce lawyer at Johnson Law Group, who can help draft a written parenting agreement with the other spouse.

Leaving the Marital Home Due to Domestic Violence

In divorce cases involving domestic violence, the spouse may leave the family home and bring their children with them in order to protect the family from the threat of such violence. It is always important to protect the safety of yourself and your children before thinking of how it will impact your right to a marital home at a later time.

What Factors Will a Family Court Consider When Awarding the Marital Home?

While Colorado family courts will often order the marital home to be sold so that each spouse can receive their equitable share of the property value, there are some cases in which the marital home may be awarded to one spouse. Some factors that judges in divorce cases will consider when deciding the fate of a marital home include:

  • How each spouse contributed to the marital home, both financially and through other circumstances, such as homemaker duties.
  • The current economic standing of each spouse.
  • How the value of the separate property of each spouse has changed, and whether any of these properties now have a lower value because of marital reasons.
  • The total value of the property is distributed to each spouse.

Additionally, the court will prioritize the needs of the children when determining whether one parent retains the marital home. For example, if the parent remaining in the home has majority custody and forcing a sale would disrupt the school routine of the children, the court may opt to award the home to the remaining parent.

Learn More About Leaving the Marital Home From a Colorado Divorce Attorney

Are you wondering, โ€œWhat are my rights if I leave the marital home?โ€ or struggling with another divorce-related concern? Going through a divorce can be an extremely stressful and difficult process to navigate on your own. For many divorcees, legal guidance can help make this process easier and less stressful. An experienced divorce lawyer understands how state laws and the specific circumstances of the marriage will affect the case, and how to use this knowledge to come up with a strong plan tailored to their clientโ€™s needs.

If you are looking for legal guidance regarding your divorce, the team of seasoned Colorado divorce lawyers at the Johnson Law Group is ready to stand by your side. Contact us today at (720) 463-4333 to learn more about the marital home, child custody, dividing assets, and any other divorce-related concerns you may have.

Johnson Law Group Logo

Subscribe To Receive Important Information

Join ourย email list to receive the latest news and updates from our Family Law Team.

Thank you for subscribing to Johnson Law Group. You will now start receiving important information.

OVERBOARD: HOW TO AVOID SINKING
IN YOUR COLORADO FAMILY LAW CASE
Written by Family Law Attorney Myles S. Johnson
Divorce doesnโ€™t have to be dramatic. For the litigants, losing your spouse is significant enough. But you can choose the way it affects your daily life. The only guarantee I can give is that the feeling that you have right now will not be the feeling you end with. This is a season in your life, and it must be approached that way.
GET YOUR FREE COPY TODAY
Our experience, dedication to Colorado families, and our success in each case we represent sets us apart from the competition. We are passionate about family and estate law. Our highly-qualified team will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible results in your case.

COMMERCE CITY

13599 East 104th Avenue 
Suite 300
Commerce City, CO 80022
Phone: 720-452-2540
Fax: 720-500-6087
Directions

DENVER

2373 Central Park Blvd.,
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80238
Phone: 720-452-2540
Fax: 720-500-6087
Directions

FORT COLLINS

2580 E Harmony Rd
Suite 201 
Fort Collins, CO 80528
Phone: 720-452-2540
Fax: 720-500-6087
Directions

COLORADO SPRINGS

2438 Research Pkwy
Suite 205
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Phone: 719-624-8712
Fax: 720-500-6087
Directions

CONTACT US

Fast & responsive family law team

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Johnson Law Group, LLC is located in Denver, CO and serves clients in and around Englewood, Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Wheat Ridge, Adams County, Arapahoe County and Denver County.
Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Copyright ยฉ 2023 All rights reserved.
Call Now Button720-445-4444 linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram