Murderer spouse & community property in az. ENFORCING A SURVIVOR BENEFIT ELECTION IN A PENSION IN ARIZONA; MURDERER SPOUSE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA; DAMAGES. Murderer spouse & community property in az

 
 ENFORCING A SURVIVOR BENEFIT ELECTION IN A PENSION IN ARIZONA; MURDERER SPOUSE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA; DAMAGESMurderer spouse & community property in az  The terms “fair” and “equitable” has been defined to mean substantially equal

LeRoi (right) and Samuelson (left) were. Remembering our order of operations, we start inside the parenthetical and $100,000 divided by $500,000 is 0. Wife-killing backgammon ace Rod Covlin was sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars Wednesday for snapping his estranged spouse’s neck to score her $5. Generally, community property is property acquired while you were married, and separate property is property you acquired before marriage. Idaho. -when a gift is made to a third a party, the gift is deemed to have been made 1/2 by each spouse, even when only one spouse made the gift. This means that any assets acquired after you initially file and serve your spouse with papers (or assets acquired after you are served yourself) are your sole and separate property and will. Circumstances When Arizona is a 50/50 State in a Divorce. All property acquired by either husband or wife during the marriage is the community property of the husband and wife except for property that is: 1. That represents the community’s share or percentage of the appreciation. Ct. Ms Coue has been charged with murder, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and going armed to cause fear. In re Norton, 34 B. Under this method, the court determines the community interest in the pension and its present cash value. When a couple marries the pre-marriage separate property of a spouse is not liable for the pre-marriage debts of the. I am the spouse of the deceased and I am claiming the allowance in lieu of homestead ($18,000) exempt property ($7,000) and family allowance ($12,000). MURDERER SPOUSE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA; DAMAGES CAUSED BY A COMMUNITY PROPERTY VEHICLE IN ARIZONA;According to our research, the nine community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Photo: AP Photo/Matt York. In addition, all assets purchased during marriage are presumed to be community property assets, regardless of whether the property is titled in the name of one or both spouses. As an example, suppose a couple gets divorced. The experienced divorce attorneys of Clark & Schloss Family Law, P. The wife later objected to the agreement; stating that the division and assets were not fair and equitable. enforcing a survivor benefit election in a pension in arizona; murderer spouse and community property in arizona; damages caused by a community property vehicle in arizona; compensation for waste of community assets in arizona; using separate funds to buy joint property in arizona; transmuting separate property into. Community property. Robert Spangler (January 10, 1933 – August 5, 2001) was a serial killer who murdered his first wife, son, daughter, and his third wife. Thank you to the authors at Derr&Villarreal LLC for providing insight into divorce litigation and personal injury law. In Arizona, the earnings of the spouses during marriage are community property. Legally married persons can take title to the property as community property per A. -Enter Your Spouse's Community Income:--Taxes Withheld: You=$7,500. 3d 854, 93 Cal. Payable-on-Death Designations. enforcing a survivor benefit election in a pension in arizona; murderer spouse and community property in arizona; damages caused by a community property vehicle in arizona; compensation for waste of community assets in arizona; using separate funds to buy joint property in arizona; transmuting separate property into. Community property is a family law term used to refer to all of the personal and real property that a couple acquires during their marriage, which legally belongs to both spouses. Community Property: A U. Under community property rules, property acquired by either spouse during a marriage is presumed to be equally owned by both spouses. 9 0. When spouses get divorced, community property is divided equally. The nine community property states in the U. Divorce laws vary by state, with some leaning more toward the community property concept. Call Now (480)305-8300. The exact division is generally left to the discretion of the trial court. Both husband and wife must sign a real estate contract for the community property to be obligated. The process of getting a divorce involves the division of assets and earnings between the married couple and includes determining community versus sole and separate property in Arizona. Similarly, if your spouse died with no children but one or more parents or siblings survived them, you will inherit all community property and one-half of the separate property, with the remaining half going to the surviving parents or siblings. The trial court placed the burden of proof on the husband to prove the guns were his separate property by clear and convincing evidence. In Kingsberry’s case, Western Drilling repaid all of the community loans in full. (A discussion of the slayer doctrine in a more typical case can be found here. Rowe was faced with an appeal concerning the characterization of a business as Husband’s sole and separate. 1. S. 5 16. 2. CHAPTER 3. 254. But otherwise, it is not a part of the deceased spouse’s estate. It automatically gives 50% ownership to both spouses. One advantage of community property is with regard to capital gains taxes. If, for example, you make a last will and testament, you can pass your interest in the property to anyone. 80% of murders were committed by men in 2017. Slayer rules, also known as slayer statutes, keep anyone from benefiting from your life insurance policy if they’re even suspected of murdering or plotting to murder you. The parties owned a house, as well as a parcel of land. “During the marriage” is defined as the period from the date of marriage to the date of service, or the date a spouse is served with a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (a. By filing Form 8379, the injured spouse may be able to get back his or her share of the joint refund. Washington. R. 9364 E Raintree Drive, Suite 107. Suzanne and Barry Morphew's marriage was at the center of testimony during the second day of the 53-year-old father's preliminary hearing in Salida, Colorado, Tuesday. Valerie Pape, the "Torso Murderer," has been released from prison after serving 16 years and awaits deportation to France. Get Directions. op. Is a Spouse’s Separate Property Liable for Community Debts. The second-most-common motive for the intimate partner homicides studied was gain (23%). SUBCHAPTER A. Medicide, a suicide accomplished with the aid of a physician. In Arizona, either spouse can ask the court for a divorce. However, one spouse may gift the other his interest in community property, making it the separate property of the other. April 1, 2006 -- It's always shocking when you hear of someone who has murdered their spouse. ARIZONA COMMUNITY PROPERTY LAWS. The short answer to the question can there be waste of the equity in a marital home in Arizona is, yes, the court will recognize a claim of waste of the equity in a home during a divorce in Arizona; either because a spouse did not take care of the home or intentionally losing equity in the home due to a foreclosure that could. Gypsy’s mother, Claudine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, 48, divorced, moved multiple times and went from doctor to doctor claiming that Gypsy had leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and other ailments. Included in that section of the Arizona Revised Statutes are the following laws that you may want to review: According to A. This means that if, for example, the couple’s house was purchased years ago for $150,000 and it is now worth $600,000, the. There are nine states that are community property states—Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. A new CDC report sheds light on patterns in homicides of women. It is important to know what community property the spouses have because in a dissolution case the. creation of a community lien on sole and separate property in arizona; community property laws about a spouse’s personal guarantee in arizona; choosing a valuation date when dividing assets in a divorce in arizona; can a spouse be held liable for credit card debt in arizona; calculating a community lien on a depreciating asset in. Community property is joint ownership of all assets purchased during a marriage, no matter which spouse purchased them. Sarah Hartsfield was arrested in Chambers County after being indicted for murder in the death of her most recent husband, Joseph Hartsfield. Brian Walshe, 47, appeared in court Wednesday to be arraigned on charges of murder and illegally disinterring or moving a body. After a nationwide search for missing travel blogger Gabby Petito in 2021, her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, admitted in a notebook that he killed her. Arizona law describes what happens if the community invests money in the separate property of one spouse. 001. Business. However, these protections only apply if the couple is actually married and not if they are cohabiting. Like many western states, Arizona allows legally married couples to own real estate as community. When the house is sold, either before or after your death, the state can collect repayment from its share of the sale proceeds, as. The Arizona Court of Appeals found that Rule 33 (A) of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure allows a divorce judge to permit a party to a divorce case to make a statutory legal claim against a third party related to the divorce case. Murder: Generally, killing someone by planning the crime ahead of time. But these nine states are the only. A Conclusion of Value can be presented in either a Detailed or. Maximum of 15 years in prison (7-10 years for clean records) Third Degree Murder. App. If, for example, a home is titled in just the husband’s name – both the husband and the wife have a claim to ½ of the home. Phoenix Property Division Attorney. Just before the end of her long shift, one of the nurses went to check on Seb. S. In Arizona, when a spouse purchases real estate with their separate funds, it is considered their separate property. Some states, like California, have estate laws that promise the surviving spouse a percentage of the community property acquired during their marriage. In Arizona, an increase in the value of separate property during a marriage can be either separate or community property. Change the status of community property used to acquire new property or the status of that new property as community property. MURDERER SPOUSE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA; DAMAGES CAUSED BY A COMMUNITY PROPERTY VEHICLE IN ARIZONA;The community property states—Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin—have their own rules about what spouses own and can claim. According to the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act, 10 U. A divorce decree in Arizona is intended to divide all community property between the spouses. This represented her share of the community income earned during their three years of separation. states treat a husband and wife as a single economic unit under a system of community property law. While a criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the slayer rule applies to civil law, not criminal law, so the petitioner. The superior court deviated from Casalena’s calculation. S. A judge in Arizona is required to fairly and equitably divide the parties’ property and debts in an Arizona divorce or legal separation. S. This means that if a married Arizona resident acquires a membership interest in an LLC, Arizona law presumes that both spouses each own an undivided one half of the entire membership interest as community property. What is equitable depends in part on the kind and nature of the marital property being divided. Arizona is one of nine community property states in the U. R. The Arizona Supreme Court noted two methods of determining that interest. Community property "rests on the assumption that the two spouses worked together to accumulate property for the community, each contributing in pecuniary or other ways. If you have questions about the division of deferred retirement option plans in an Arizona divorce case, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Like many western states, Arizona allows legally married couples to own real estate as community property, with or without rights of survivorship. On separate returns, H and W each must report $10,000 of the total community income. In the case of In Re Marriage of Inboden, 225 P. One of Australia’s longest-running cold cases has ended with the conviction of former high school teacher Chris Dawson for the murder of his wife Lynette in 1982, so he could start a new life. Lindor is in pre-trial confinement, accused of. Learn More About Survivor Elections and Military Retirement in an Arizona Divorce From Hildebrand Law, PC. Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine. That means that property held by a husband and/or wife is presumed to belong to them as a community. Common-Law States. R. Koepnick, 3 P. Community Property States. Community property and liabilities are split. S. Rhoda Nathan, a 67-year-old New Jersey woman, was found beaten to death in her Blue Ash hotel room on Sept. Joint Tenancy. Helland, 337 P. M. 933 (1931). The wife is in the military and. The rules and definitions are set forth at Section 33-431 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. 2. Learn More About the Valuation of a Professional Practice in an Arizona Divorce From the Experienced Divorce Attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. The parties were married on February 15. e. Arizona law provides that all property acquired during marriage by a spouse is the community property of both spouses. If you need this to happen, or if you are the spouse at risk of being kicked out, you’ll want an experienced divorce lawyer on your side. So how do community property and property division work in Arizona? Read on for everything. Arizona is a community property state, which means, by statute all property acquired by husband and wife is presumed to be community property unless stipulated otherwise. PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES. As Arizona is one of nine community property states in the United States, anything earned (or debt incurred) during the marriage is community property and, thus, subject to “equitable” distribution in a divorce. Signs Your Spouse Would Murder You. Army Spc. In 1982, Cathy Krauseneck, a young mother. creation of a community lien on sole and separate property in arizona; community property laws about a spouse’s personal guarantee in arizona; choosing a valuation date when dividing assets in a divorce in arizona; can a spouse be held liable for credit card debt in arizona; calculating a community lien on a depreciating asset in arizonaValento, 224 Ariz. When that lien is divided between the spouses, the husband will receive $50,000. It awards half of that amount to the nonemployee spouse in the form of equivalent property. If you have questions about murder spouse and community property in an Arizona divorce case, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. -"reasonable" gift of. McClennen was ordered to pay $37,054. There are two types of property: separate property and community property. Call Now (480)305-8300. A. Garrett, 683 P. The Arizona Legislature adopted the aggregate theory for dividing up community property in a divorce. Phone Us602 248 1000 Our Firm What is Community Property Law in Arizona and Why Does it Matter? Arizona is a community property state and community property law. D. Edwards, 217 Ariz. The Arizona Court of Appeals’ decision in the case of Rowe v. 18. Improving Separate Property and Transumtation Rules. The question sometimes arises as to what a court may do when separate property is used to buy community property in Arizona. Arizona Revised Statute Section 25-318 (B) allows a judge to consider the taxes that will become due upon the sale of an asset, such as capital gains taxes on a home. In a community property state, marital property becomes community property, which is jointly owned by both spouses. Bryce Newberry , Reporter Published: February 17, 2023. In a community property state, spouses equally own any income earned during the marriage and any property purchased with that income. 00. Arizona is a community property state. Monahan responds that any defect was cured when Mr. Nevada. The surviving spouse is legally entitled. However, suppose the parent or their spouse had children from another relationship. • Real estate that is treated as community property under the laws of the state where the property is located. An increase in the value of that separate property during the marriage is also separate property. Outcome for spouse murder defendants who pleaded not guilty and stood trial Of the 238 who pleaded not guilty, 63% were tried by a jury and the remaining 37% were tried by a judge. Ariz. Walshe has been in jail since January 8, when he was arrested on a. The separate property of a spouse can be turned into community property in Arizona. Winters, 298 P. Pape, former owner of a Scottsdale beauty salon, shot her husband in 2000. Here’s how the slayer rule works and when it does make sense for someone to own life insurance coverage on you. Toth, an equal division is not always equitable. For example, if two spouses make $60,000 and $40,000, you would make an adjustment on the tax return and both would show as earning $50,000. S. Creditor relied on Arizona Revised Statutes §25-215. If you. In the state of Arizona, all assets acquired during the marriage, by either spouse, are presumed to be community property. Separate property is what you own before marriage, while community property is what you. How the property is titled is not material in community property states. Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine. Also a putative spouse is considered in a probate proceeding[iii]. Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona community property case around today. A judge in Arizona is required to fairly divide all of the parties’ community property and to assign to each party any sole and separate property. Separate property in Arizona is classified as any property owned by a spouse before marriage or any property owned by a spouse after a divorce decree has been finalized. (See Fla. Given this, is a spouse entitled to reimbursement for. § 25-324. Here are the requirements for using a small estate affidavit in Arizona: Personal property: To use an affidavit to claim personal property: the total value of the estate's personal property must be less than $75,000; you must wait at least 30 days after death, and; the estate must not be going through formal probate. 5 years for clean record) Second Degree Murder. A spouse wants out of a marriage, but doesn’t want to pay alimony or have others think badly of them. RCW 26. This typically occurs when a spouse owns a home during a marriage but then adds his or her spouse’s name to the Deed to the home. 3d 1082 (1999), the appellate court considered a promissory note signed. That means a soon-to-be former spouse is probably entitled to a share of your retirement. Let’s assume that you and your spouse purchased some property in Arizona back in 1970 as an investment. It found that any damages were a community debt. Ct. Detective arrests Murderer. Each spouse owns one-half of the property and has an equal right of management and control of the community property, but neither spouse may enter. This can sometimes mean 55/45 or 60/40 or 40/60—every case is unique. A. However, gifts and inheritances are separate property, not owned by both spouses. Under Arizona law, the community property laws protect each spouse’s share of the assets earned during a marriage. ” B. Kouri Richins, 33, faces a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with the death of her 39-year-old husband, Eric Richins, who was found dead at the foot of their bed on March. GENERAL RULES FOR SEPARATE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY. Conclusion. The spouses, who have an undivided one-half interest in the community property, would share the $25,000 equally ($25,000/2 = $12,500 for each. App. jpg. It noted that either spouse during a marriage may give his or her interest in community property to the other. The Arizona appellate court in the matter of Rowe v. A new opportunity in Florida: Community property trusts. MURDERER SPOUSE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY IN ARIZONA; DAMAGES CAUSED BY A COMMUNITY PROPERTY VEHICLE IN. FAX: (602) 279-2980. Only community property owned before the death of the spouse will be treated so to determine the murderer spouse’s share in the community property [ii]. 205; § 14-6. Some 670 occurred last year, up from 594 in 2021 and 570 the year before. W must report $2,000 ($12,000 – $10,000) as alimony received, which H may deduct as alimony paid. The four-month-long murder trial. Community Property. Joint tenancy property is not identical to community property. Property settlements are just one issue that has to be resolved in the divorce process. October 13, 2023. The table also specifies a list of. 497, 176 P. California. In Alaska, two spouses or partners can make an item community property by forming a community property agreement or trust. For. 592, 598–99 (App. McClennen was ordered to pay $15,000. As part of the process, a court must determine which debts belong to each individual spouse. When a couple divorces, all of their community marital property will be divided 50/50. A surviving spouse—including in a same-sex marriage—is exempt from federal estate tax on assets in any case. Preparation becomes important and preparation starts with identifying the issues in front of you. During a dissolution of marriage case, the trial court must divide the community property between the. One area of particular interest with its own complexity is California's community property law and the way state laws divide marital property when a. Arizona generally defines community property as that acquired by the couple during marriage, irrespective of whose name it is under. has over 26 years of Arizona family law experience and received awards from US News and World Report, Phoenix Magazine, Arizona Foothills. Shakespeare Testament. In the case of Helland vs. 2014) the Arizona Court of Appeals discussed whether payments from a disability insurance policy were community property, belonging equally to both spouses, or the separate property of the disabled spouse. " To create the trust, spouses must follow certain rules. Some states may allow you to place community property. The community property is liable for a spouse's debts incurred outside of this state during the. 8880. This means you have the right to choose how you want to pass your property on after you die. 0. Attorneys, doctors, dentists, mental health. Earnings of either spouse during a marriage are community property in Arizona. For 2022, residents don’t have to file a state estate tax return if the value of their estate is less than the tax exempt amount of $2,193,000, according to Washington inheritance laws. Pfeffer held that a creditor might come after community assets but usually cannot come after the separate property of a spouse to pay a community debt. Can one spouse decide to reconvert the joint property to community property without the. at 221, 946 P. Kratz at (520)577-5155 if you have questions about how to properly divide retirement accounts in an Arizona divorce. On Oct. Together, judges and juries acquitted 16% of the 238 spouse murder defendants and convicted 84% or 199 persons of killing their spouse. The Arizona Court of Appeals in a published decision in the case of Barron vs. Solution of puzzle is given in the image. (A. Terranova, 15 Cal. R. Rickey Massey, the Nellis airman sentenced for killing his wife in 2014 (KSNV file) LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — The former Nellis sergeant who pleaded guilty to. The Court reviewed case decisions about whether one spouse’s personal injury award is the separate property or community property in Arizona. (4) The injured spouse shall be entitled to 100 percent of the community property interest in the retirement and pension benefits of the injured spouse. The court, coincidentally, also ordered the husband to. The terms “fair” and “equitable” has been defined to mean substantially equal. So, we wanted to provide answers to frequently asked questions about Arizona community property laws. If the couple divorces, the community property must be divided and distributed to the parties. Arizona is a community property state. New Mexico. . S. In a community property state, capital gains tax on community assets can be eliminated by receiving a full step up in tax basis when a loved one dies. The evidence suggested that they intended to hold their property in accordance with community property law. But real life isn’t a true crime show. Because the state doesn’t view anyone related to you solely. 1070, Chapter 2021-183, which enacted the Florida Community Property Trust Act. ARS § 25-318(A) provides in pertinent part: In a proceeding for dissolution of the marriage, or for legal. 2d 818 (1970), the Arizona Supreme Court considered several quitclaim deeds a spouse signed. A Fort Hood, Texas, soldier and agent with Army Criminal Investigation Command has been charged with the 2018 murder of his wife. I think an example would best illustrate what I mean by a step up in tax basis. Franklin/AP. “Once a spouse observes that his. The expert said such people commit murder and then blame the devil for their woes. Debts incurred during the marriage. New Mexico. ) But the case that reached. Learn How are Stock Options Divided in an Arizona Divorce Case from the Experienced Arizona Divorce Attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Community Property: Only persons married to each other may own real property as community property. Under Arizona law, all property (both real and personal) that this acquired by either the husband or the wife during the marriage is community property, except for property that is (i) acquired by gift (even from the other. ”. The percentage of females murdered by an intimate partner was 5 times higher than for males. A divorce can be complicated. Losing up to 100% of the asset is a penalty for hiding assets in divorce. Further, any income made from a spouse. Unlike the antagonists in her steamy romance thrillers, author Nancy Crampton-Brophy did not get away with murder. Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona community property case around today. In Arizona, all property acquired by a couple after marriage is presumed to be community property. , bonds, mutual funds, stocks) Community property also includes debts shared between the spouses. 2, Community Property Law, for more information. Imprisoned at. Born in Missouri in 1892, Lyda Southard is believed to have killed at least six people between 1915 and. Property acquired during the marriage is presumed to be community property. There are. The second method for recovering Medicaid costs paid is to place a lien on any real property owned by the person who received Medicaid coverage. Both avoid probate. In an action on such a debt or obligation the. Nevada. The Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the lower court. In the Hutki case, the husband and the wife reached a rule 69 settlement agreement in their divorce case. Ross D. Koelsch, noted that property earned by either spouse’s employment is community property in Arizona. Rule 33 (A) of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. That means that, after the divorce decree was entered, each spouse was the owner of 50% of. Both community property with right of survivorship and joint tenancy with right of survivorship work the same way for one important purpose. Unlike in some states, the property may not be divided equally 50/50, but equitably in the eyes of the judge assigned to your case. A3. S. “… it shall also divide the community, joint tenancy and other property held in common equitably, though not necessarily in kind, without regard to marital misconduct. A Minnesota man has been charged with the murder of his wife 11 years after she was shot and killed in their home. " See maj. On your separate returns, each of you must report $10,000 of the total community income. TTY: (800) 279-7270. Though he was featured in the documentary, he has. However, in community property states, creditors have certain recourses in specific situations as it relates to collecting on a deceased person’s debts. Purpose of Form. App. Exceptions may occur in situations. California law defines "separate property" as: all property owned by the person before marriage. By Natalie Kainz and Colin Sheeley. Contact the Cantor Law Group to schedule a free consultation about how your rights by calling 602. Placing your separate property in a living revocable trust can help you protect your assets. This is even more challenging in Arizona, which is one of the few ‘community property. California is one of the nine states that allow for community property. If you are going through a divorce or legal separation in Arizona it is important for you to familiarize yourself with the laws that apply to the division of community property and how separate property is defined and treated in Arizona. Common-law property is often contrasted with community property, which follows. In Arizona, a spouse signing over property by quitclaim generally gives up all interest in it. Under your state law, earnings of a spouse living separately and apart from the other spouse continue as community property. B. ) Kentucky. Our Phoenix AZ offices are available 24 hours a day at (602) 254-8880 or by sending us a confidential email to talk about your related family law. Under Arizona's community property laws, all assets and debts a couple acquires during marriage belong equally to both spouses. Call Now. Recharacterizing a community property assets into non-community property will eliminate the ability to get the full step up in income tax basis in that assets on the death of either spouse (i. S. For example, jealousy caused by knowing or suspecting a partner is attracted to someone. Contact Information 602-266-1313. Solution of this story is given below, Butler Gets Fired. Arizonian family courts emphasize fairness when dividing up a property. This means that the surviving spouse immediately owns 100% of the property. However, if you are going through a divorce or planning to.