A break down of equitable distribution in cases involving brownstones, co-ops, startups, and Wall Street bonuses.

Divorce is never simple, but in New York City, it can become extraordinarily complicated when millions of dollars are on the line. This is a city of brownstones worth more than most people’s lifetime earnings, Wall Street bonuses that rival lottery wins, and startups where today’s idea might be tomorrow’s IPO. When those assets are part of a marriage, the process of dividing them is anything but straightforward.

Equitable Distribution: What It Really Means

New York is an equitable distribution state. That means marital property is divided fairly, but not necessarily equally, when a couple divorces. Marital property generally includes assets acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title. Separate property, on the other hand, usually refers to assets owned before the marriage, inheritances, or gifts made to one spouse individually.

But when millions are at stake, the line between marital and separate property often blurs. Appreciation on a premarital asset, contributions from a spouse’s labor, or the use of marital funds to maintain or improve property can transform what looks like separate property into something that’s at least partly marital. That’s where the litigation begins.