Will having separate bank accounts protect you in divorce?

Unlike most married couples, you and your spouse have separate bank accounts. Now that you and your husband or wife have decided to divorce, you wonder if your unconventional approach to marital finances may speed up your split, allowing you to start the next phase of your life sooner.

CNBC Make It notes that such an approach does not always make the asset division process of divorce easier.

Equitable distribution

Florida operates under equitable distribution laws. That means that anything you earned during the marriage is yours. That said, there is no guarantee that your spouse cannot convince a judge that all of your assets are marital property. Additionally, a judge may decide to use your separate assets to fund your divorce settlement.

Access to money 

This is not to say that having and maintaining separate bank accounts during divorce is without its advantages. One good thing is that your having a separate account gives you quick and easy access to your own funds should you need them during your divorce. Your spouse may decide to limit access to a joint fund, which could make it difficult for you to buy whatever you need to move on with your life.

Additional protective measures 

To better protect yourself and your finances during divorce, consider printing out financial statements for the month before you married your spouse. This makes it clear what you brought into the marriage and how to properly divide assets.

Maintaining a separate bank account during your marriage may not offer you the protection you think it may during divorce, but it is not entirely futile.

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