Who has a right to the automotive tools I need to work, that were purchased before marriage?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Who has a right to the automotive tools I need to work, that were purchased before marriage?
I started my career as a mechanic in 1984 and acquired most of my tools before our marriage in 1995. My wife is claiming that she has a right to all of them and wants me to buy her out of my half. I contend she only has a right to half the value of the amount that I bought after our marriage (which can be figured from amounts claimed on our taxes every year). What’s more, I need my tools to earn a living, let alone to pay child support.
Asked on November 8, 2010 under Family Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Typically, a spouse only has an interest in property or assets accumulated during marriage, not those brought into a marriage and acquired without the spouse's contribution. You should therefore have a good case to be made that these are not a marital asset (or rather, ; however, you should *not* attempt to resolve this matter yourself. By what you write, the outcome of who owns the tools will have a major impact on your life and ability to meet any support obligations; you should therefore retain experienced divorce counsel to represent you in this matter and make sure you are not liable for more than your fair share of marital assets (and also that any support you end up owing is as affordable and reasonable as possible). The money you pay for the attorney will be a very good investment.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.