Am I still entitled to my ex's social security benefits after our divorce?

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Nathan Anderson

I recently came across an excellent article on the Wall Street Journal's website entitled, How Divorce Affects Your Social Security (Or Not).  As a Dallas divorce lawyer, I am frequently asked about post-divorce entitlement to social security benefits.  From the outset, it should be noted that unlike most other areas of martial property law, benefits arising from the Social Security Act are preempted by Federal Law from being characterized as community property.  Because of this preemption, we have to look to federal law to determine what affect divorce plays on social security benefits.

In general, in order to be permitted to collect benefits under your ex-spouse's earnings all five of the following must be true:

  1. You marriage was at least ten years in length;
  2. You cannot have remarried since your divorce;
  3. You are at least 62 years old;
  4. Your ex-spouse is entitled to social security benefits; and
  5. The benefits you would be entitled to based on your own work history are less than the benefits you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work history.

So, if you meet all five of these requirements, then you'll likely be entitled to up to 50% of your ex's social security benefits.  Note that the amount your ex is entitled to as the divorced spouse does not have any impact on the benefit amount the other spouse receives.  For an "official" explanation of the above, check out the Social Security Administration's website. 

Hat tip to Kelly Greene at the Wall Street Journal for the idea behind this post.

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Fair market value vs. Intrinsic value: Which one to use?

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Nathan Anderson

I received a question from a client today asking how the court would determine the value of the piece of property in the community estate.  Often times, the parties will litigate over the value of a piece of property, so it is important to know how, in the absence of an agreement, the court will determine a property's value.

As a general rule, property is valued according to its fair market value as of the date the marriage is dissolved.  Texas courts have routinely defined fair market value as the price the property will bring when it is offered for sale for one who desires, but does not need to, sell, and is bought by a person who desires, but is not required to, buy.

If a piece of property doesn't have a fair market value, the property can be valued using its intrinsic value.  The intrinsic value of property is the actual monetary value of the property's use to the owner, excluding any fanciful or sentimental consideration.  In determining intrinsic value, the fact finder cannot consider any evidence of the property's fair market value, but can consider the property's original purchase price, its replacement cost, its uses, and any other facts that might shed light on its intrinsic value.

In sum, the majority of the time the court will determine value by using the fair market value approach at the time the divorce is granted.  Obviously parties frequently have differing opinions as to property values, but using the fair market value approach is a relatively objective means to obtaining a value.

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