marital-settlement-agreement

# Marital Settlement Agreement

Drafts a binding MSA resolving all divorce issues — property, support, custody — ready for court approval and incorporation into the final decree.

## Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

1. **Financial disclosures** — income statements, tax returns, account statements for both parties
2. **Property docs** — appraisals, deeds, titles, retirement statements, business valuations
3. **Debt records** — creditor statements with account numbers and balances
4. **Custody materials** — evaluations, existing parenting plans, school/medical records
5. **Prior agreements** — prenuptial agreements, temporary orders, mediation outcomes
6. **Jurisdictional info** — filing state, county, case number, community vs. equitable property regime

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Property Division (Article I)

**Marital Property Schedule** — itemize each asset:

| Column | Content |
|---|---|
| Asset description | Real property, accounts, vehicles, retirement, business interests |
| Identifier | APN, account #, VIN, plan #, EIN |
| FMV / Balance | Dollar value at valuation date |
| Awarded to | Receiving party |
| Notes | Encumbrances, buyout terms, QDRO needed, valuation method |

**Marital Debt Schedule** — itemize each debt: creditor, account #, balance, responsible party, hold-harmless obligation.

**Separate Property Confirmation** — list each party's separate property (pre-marital, gift, inheritance) with mutual disclaimer of interest.

### Step 2 — Spousal Support (Article II)

Draft one of:

**A. Support ordered** — specify: monthly amount, due date/method, duration, modifiability, step-down schedule, COLA, termination events (death, remarriage, cohabitation), tax treatment (post-TCJA: non-deductible/non-includable federally).

**B. Mutual waiver** — explicit knowing waiver of all current and future support rights with acknowledgment of consequences.

### Step 3 — Children (Article III)

**Custody & Parenting Plan:**
- Legal custody — joint/sole; decision domains (education, healthcare, religion)
- Physical custody — primary placement, weekday/weekend rotation
- Holiday/vacation schedule — odd/even alternation, notice requirements
- Transportation, communication with non-custodial parent
- Relocation — notice period, mileage threshold, consent/court approval
- Attach detailed parenting plan as exhibit

**Child Support:**
- Monthly amount with guideline calculation per state formula
- Health insurance responsibility and cost allocation
- Uninsured medical and childcare cost splits
- Duration (age of majority / HS graduation per state law)
- Post-secondary contribution terms if agreed
- Modification standard (material change in circumstances)

### Step 4 — General Provisions (Article IV)

Include all:
- **Mutual releases** — all claims except those preserved in this agreement
- **Representations** — full disclosure, opportunity for independent counsel (or knowing waiver), voluntary execution, fairness acknowledgment
- **Attorney's fees** — each bears own; prevailing party in enforcement recovers fees
- **Dispute resolution** — mediation before litigation; specify enforcement jurisdiction
- **Severability**, **governing law**, **integration**, **amendments** (written, signed by both)

### Step 5 — Execution Block

Include signature lines for both parties with dates, approval-as-to-form lines for counsel, and notary acknowledgments if required by local rules.

## Pitfalls

- **Regime mismatch** — confirm community property vs. equitable distribution; adapt division framework
- **Child support math** — always show state guideline calculation; courts reject unexplained deviations
- **Child support is non-waivable** — courts will not enforce waiver of a child's right to support
- **QDRO requirement** — flag every retirement account division needing a Qualified Domestic Relations Order
- **Tax treatment** — post-TCJA (2019+): alimony non-deductible/non-includable federally; verify state conformity
- **Pension tracing** — distinguish community interest from separate contributions; use time rule or applicable tracing method
- **Specificity** — use exact amounts, dates, account numbers, legal descriptions; vague terms invite post-decree litigation
- **Exhibit cross-references** — verify every exhibit letter/number matches its attachment
- **Filing readiness** — include caption, case number, proper pagination, TOC for lengthy agreements