Division of Financial Portfolio
When my wife and I married in 2009, my financial portfolio was worth about $11 million. I am planning to file for divorce, and my portfolio is now worth $23 million. How much of that can my wife reach? What about stocks that I owned before we got married that have increased in value?
The $11 million is considered your separate property. Assuming that you didn’t put your wife’s name on your portfolio, she is entitled to share in the increase in value from the time of your marriage until the date of your divorce. Thus, your wife has a claim on part of the $12 million increase. The amount to which she is entitled depends on several things, such as the length of your marriage and her contribution to your marriage.
If you put your wife’s name on your portfolio, you have “gifted” the $11 million to the marital estate. In that case, your wife has a claim on part of the entire $23 million.
Same analysis regarding your stock porfolio.