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Keeping the Family Home After Divorce
Published Date : November 5, 2019
Many critical decisions faced during the divorce process require an equal measure of legal, financial, and emotional consideration. For example, the decision to retain the family home typically comes with a strong emotional overlay and can have a huge impact on life following divorce. While many often assume that keeping the home is ideal, especially when young children are involved, it is also important to think through the potential financial risks that retaining the home might pose for you. In order to help make an informed decision, you must ask yourself three questions:
1. What exactly am I accepting when I agree to keep the home?
2. What are the tax implications now and in the future?
3. How will keeping the home impact the long-term sustainability of my assets?
If you are the recipient of the home in the community property settlement, it needs to be understood that you are likely trading away other more liquid—and possibly income-producing—assets in exchange for keeping the home, which, in the short term at least, is illiquid and also expense generating. The best way to fully appreciate what this means for you is to handle such a trade-off no differently than if you were buying a new home. It is in both parties’ best interests to have the house professionally appraised and inspected in order to establish its fair market value, and to also understand the estimated cost of the deferred maintenance that you will be inheriting. Moreover, if the home still has a mortgage attached to it, there could be adverse financial ramifications resulting from refinancing to remove one party’s name from the debt and title.
As with all assets that appreciate, you will be responsible for taxes applied to the appreciation above its adjusted cost basis, which is generally the original purchase price plus the cost of any capital improvements that were made. Another important factor in determining the future tax liability of the home is the available capital gain exemption of up to $250,000 per individual that each qualifying homeowner receives, which could significantly impact the potential taxable gain if is it later sold by one person rather than two. This is especially important to consider if the plan is to not likely keep the home for the long term. For many homeowners whose properties have appreciated nicely over the years, the potential tax impact resulting from the sale of long-held property can be significant and you could be solely responsible for the full tax bill if sold after the divorce. It is important to not only determine what your future tax liability may be, but also how that cash outflow will impact your long-term financial sustainability.
Finally, it is ideal to work with an experienced Wealth Manager early in the divorce process to think through all related financial considerations, especially the need to examine how keeping the family home will impact your overall financial well-being. Thorough cash flow planning should also be done that incorporates these significant issues of illiquidity and non-income producing status, ongoing carrying costs, deferred maintenance, and potential tax liability if gain is realized. Your Wealth Manager should be able to help you better assess things by illustrating different cash flow scenarios based on these inputs plus expected capital market returns and inflation assumptions. Keeping the family home after a divorce is a major decision that has no correct or simple answer; however, understanding the financial impact of that decision will help you better negotiate your settlement agreement and plan for the future.
Articles and Commentary
Information provided in written articles are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. There is a risk of loss from investments in securities, including the risk of loss of principal. The information contained herein reflects Sand Hill Global Advisors' (“SHGA”) views as of the date of publication. Such views are subject to change at any time without notice due to changes in market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. SHGA does not provide tax or legal advice. To the extent that any material herein concerns tax or legal matters, such information is not intended to be solely relied upon nor used for the purpose of making tax and/or legal decisions without first seeking independent advice from a tax and/or legal professional. SHGA has obtained the information provided herein from various third party sources believed to be reliable but such information is not guaranteed. Certain links in this site connect to other websites maintained by third parties over whom SHGA has no control. SHGA makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other Web Sites. Any forward looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results are expected to vary from any such statements or forecasts. No reliance should be placed on any such statements or forecasts when making any investment decision. SHGA is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result of information provided in this presentation and does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information. No part of this material may be (i) copied, photocopied, or duplicated in any form, by any means, or (ii) redistributed without the prior written consent of SHGA.
Video Presentations
All video presentations discuss certain investment products and/or securities and are being provided for informational purposes only, and should not be considered, and is not, investment, financial planning, tax or legal advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Investing in securities involves varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will be profitable or suitable for a particular client’s financial situation or risk tolerance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Individual performance results will vary. The opinions expressed in the video reflect Sand Hill Global Advisor’s (“SHGA”) or Brenda Vingiello’s (as applicable) views as of the date of the video. Such views are subject to change at any point without notice. Any comments, opinions, or recommendations made by any host or other guest not affiliated with SHGA in this video do not necessarily reflect the views of SHGA, and non-SHGA persons appearing in this video do not fall under the supervisory purview of SHGA. You should not treat any opinion expressed by SHGA or Ms. Vingiello as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of general opinion. Nothing presented herein is or is intended to constitute investment advice, and no investment decision should be made based solely on any information provided on this video. There is a risk of loss from an investment in securities, including the risk of loss of principal. Neither SHGA nor Ms. Vingiello guarantees any specific outcome or profit. Any forward-looking statements or forecasts contained in the video are based on assumptions and actual results may vary from any such statements or forecasts. SHGA or one of its employees may have a position in the securities discussed and may purchase or sell such securities from time to time. Some of the information in this video has been obtained from third party sources. While SHGA believes such third-party information is reliable, SHGA does not guarantee its accuracy, timeliness or completeness. SHGA encourages you to consult with a professional financial advisor prior to making any investment decision.
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