Maraming married couples ang may maling akala tungkol sa financial settlement kapag nag-divorce sa England and Wales.

“Sa pangalan niya ang bahay, kaya wala akong makukuha.”

“Siya ang nagbabayad ng mortgage, kaya wala akong share.”

“Pension niya iyon, hindi akin.”

“Automatic 50/50 naman ang divorce.”

Hindi po ganoon kasimple ang batas.

Kapag may divorce, hiwalay ang proseso ng pagtatapos ng marriage sa pag-aayos ng finances. At pagdating sa financial settlement, tinitingnan ng Family Court ang buong circumstances ng pamilya — hindi lamang kung kanino nakapangalan ang property o kung sino ang kumita ng mas malaking pera.

Narito ang 5 bagay na maaaring maging bahagi ng financial settlement na baka ikagulat mo.

1. Maaari Kang Magkaroon ng Share sa Pension ng Ex-Spouse Mo

Yes — pension can be one of the most valuable assets in a marriage.

Sa ibang couples, minsan mas malaki pa ang value ng pension kaysa equity sa matrimonial home.

The court has powers which can include making a Pension Sharing Order, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Hindi ibig sabihin na automatic na kalahati ng buong pension ang mapupunta sa other spouse. Titingnan pa rin ang length of the marriage, pension provision ng bawat isa, ages, future needs at overall financial position.

Kaya huwag basta sabihin:

“Pension niya iyon dahil siya ang nagtrabaho.”

Marriage is treated as a partnership, at ang contributions sa marriage ay hindi lamang financial.

Ang spouse na nag-alaga ng mga anak at bahay habang nagtatrabaho ang kabilang spouse ay may contribution din sa family life.

2. Posibleng Higit sa 50% ang Matanggap ng Isang Spouse

Isa sa pinakamalaking misconceptions sa divorce ay:

“Automatic 50/50 ang lahat.”

Equal division can sometimes be a starting point, particularly with matrimonial assets, pero hindi ibig sabihin na lahat ng kaso ay matatapos sa exactly 50/50.

The court must look at the particular circumstances of the family.

For example, maaaring relevant kung:

• ikaw ang primary carer ng mga anak;
• mas mababa ang income mo;
• matagal kang hindi nagtrabaho dahil nag-alaga ka ng family;
• limited ang future earning capacity mo;
• may significant health-related needs; or
• kailangan mong magkaroon ng suitable accommodation para sa mga anak.

Sa ganitong circumstances, maaaring magkaroon ng settlement na hindi equal dahil ang pangunahing consideration ay kung ano ang fair and reasonable, particularly when meeting the needs of the parties and children.

3. Maaari Kang Magkaroon ng Share sa Bahay Kahit Hindi Ikaw ang Nagbayad ng Mortgage

Ito ang madalas kong marinig:

“Attorney, siya po lahat ang nagbayad ng mortgage. Wala po ba akong karapatan?”

Hindi necessarily.

Kung ang property ay naging matrimonial or family home, hindi lamang ang mortgage payments ang tinitingnan.

For example, maaaring ang isang spouse ang nagtrabaho at nagbayad ng mortgage habang ang isa naman ang:

• nag-alaga ng mga anak;
• nag-manage ng household;
• nag-sacrifice ng career;
• nag-support sa spouse para makapagtrabaho; at
• gumawa ng ibang non-financial contributions sa family.

The law does not simply say:

“Kung sino ang nagbayad, sa kanya lahat.”

At hindi rin automatic na dahil isang pangalan lamang ang nasa title deeds ay wala nang financial claim ang other spouse.

The matrimonial home is often one of the most important assets considered when dealing with the family’s future housing needs.

4. Posibleng May Spousal Maintenance Pagkatapos ng Divorce

Hindi po ito child maintenance.

Magkaibang bagay ang child maintenance at spousal maintenance.

Spousal maintenance is financial support paid by one former spouse to the other in appropriate circumstances.

Halimbawa, maaaring magkaroon ng malaking difference sa income at earning capacity ng dalawang parties pagkatapos ng long marriage.

The court may consider matters such as:

• income;
• earning capacity;
• financial needs;
• standard of living during the marriage;
• age;
• length of marriage;
• childcare responsibilities; and
• ability of each party to become financially independent.

Pero importanteng tandaan: spousal maintenance is not automatic.

The court will generally consider whether a clean break between the parties can reasonably be achieved.

Kaya case-by-case talaga ang assessment.

5. Kahit Pre-Marital Assets, Posibleng Maging Relevant

Paano naman kung sinabi ng spouse mo:

“Akin na ang bahay na ito bago pa kita nakilala.”

Pre-marital assets can sometimes be treated differently from assets created during the marriage.

Pero hindi rin ibig sabihin na completely untouchable ang lahat ng assets na pag-aari ng isang spouse bago ang marriage.

For example, maaaring maging relevant ang pre-marital property kung:

• ginamit ito bilang matrimonial home;
• na-integrate ito sa finances ng marriage;
• may insufficient matrimonial assets upang matugunan ang reasonable needs ng parties or children; o
• may ibang circumstances na dahilan upang isaalang-alang ito ng court.

Again, this does not mean automatic entitlement sa lahat ng pre-marital assets.

Very fact-specific po ito.

“Pero Kanino Ba Nakapangalan?”

Sa divorce financial proceedings, hindi sapat ang tanong na:

“Kanino nakapangalan?”

Mas importanteng tanong ang:

Ano ang assets at resources ng marriage? Ano ang financial needs ng bawat party? Nasaan ang mga anak? Ano ang income at future earning capacity nila? At ano ang fair outcome in all the circumstances?

Under the law of England and Wales, the Family Court considers a number of statutory factors when deciding financial matters following divorce.

Kabilang dito ang income and resources, financial needs, standard of living, ages, duration of the marriage, health where relevant, contributions, pension provision and the welfare of any children of the family.

Huwag Basta Pumirma sa “50/50 Agreement”

Kung sinabi sa iyo ng asawa mo:

“50/50 lang tayo.”

o

“Wala kang makukuha dahil ako ang nagbayad.”

o

“Hindi mo puwedeng galawin ang pension ko.”

Huwag agad pumirma o pumayag nang hindi mo muna naiintindihan ang iyong legal position.

Once a financial settlement is properly approved by the court through a Financial Remedy Order or Consent Order, maaaring magkaroon ito ng long-term consequences.

Kaya bago kayo mag-finalise ng settlement, importante na malaman ninyo kung ano talaga ang assets, liabilities, pensions, income at financial needs ng bawat isa.

Final Thought

Ang divorce ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pagtatapos ng marriage.

It can also involve important decisions tungkol sa:

bahay, savings, pensions, investments, debts, maintenance at financial security ng pamilya pagkatapos ng separation.

At tandaan:

Hindi porke hindi ikaw ang kumita ng pera ay wala ka nang contribution sa marriage.

Ang pagpapalaki ng mga anak, pag-aalaga ng family at pagsuporta sa household ay maaari ring maging very important contributions.

Bawat divorce ay iba. Kaya ang tamang financial settlement ay dapat nakabase sa individual circumstances ng parties — hindi sa assumptions, threats or simpleng “50/50 lang.”

*DISCLAIMER: All information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. All my comments here are based on my opinions, experience and my interpretation of the law. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act upon the information on this website, you do so at your own risk. This is not intended to be legal or professional advice in any jurisdiction. Please click on any given links, if applicable, or contact relevant legal and professional body for further information. Refer to the source of any quotes. If you want personalised advice, please email me at donmagsinosolicitors.com.