Maraming tao ang may ganitong paniniwala:

“Bahay ko ito. Binili ko ito bago pa kami nagkakilala at bago kami nagpakasal. So wala siyang claim dito.”

Unfortunately, hindi palaging ganoon kasimple ang divorce law sa England and Wales.

Kahit ikaw pa ang bumili ng property bago kayo nagpakasal, possible pa rin na maging relevant ang property na iyon kapag pinag-uusapan na ang financial settlement sa divorce.

Hindi ibig sabihin nito na automatic na makakakuha ng kalahati ang asawa mo. Pero hindi rin safe na sabihin na dahil premarital asset ito, completely untouchable na ito.

Ano ang Premarital Asset?

Premarital asset ang isang property o ibang asset na pag-aari mo na bago pa kayo nagpakasal.

Halimbawa:

Bumili ka ng bahay noong 30 years old ka.

At age 35, nagpakasal ka.

Clearly, pag-aari mo na ang bahay bago pa nagsimula ang marriage. Kaya maaari itong tawaging premarital o non-matrimonial property.

Pero kapag nag-divorce kayo years later, hindi lamang titingnan ng Family Court kung kaninong pangalan nakalagay ang property o kung sino ang originally bumili nito.

Under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, kailangang tingnan ng court ang overall circumstances ng case, kabilang ang property and financial resources ng bawat spouse, kanilang financial needs, standard of living, age, duration of the marriage, contributions at iba pang relevant factors.

“Pero Akin Na Ito Bago Kami Nagpakasal!”

That is an important factor — pero hindi iyon ang end of the discussion.

The court may distinguish between matrimonial and non-matrimonial property. However, depending on the circumstances, a premarital property may still become relevant when determining a fair financial outcome.

Particularly important ang tanong na:

Ano ang nangyari sa property habang kayo ay married?

Halimbawa, kung ang bahay na originally binili mo bago ang marriage ay naging family home ninyo for many years, doon lumaki ang inyong mga anak, at doon kayo nanirahan bilang pamilya, mas mahirap sabihin na completely separate ito sa marriage.

The financial needs of both parties and any children can also be very important.

Paano Kung Long Marriage?

Generally, habang tumatagal ang marriage, maaaring mas maging difficult na panatilihing completely separate ang ilang assets na dinala sa marriage.

Pero importanteng linawin ito:

Walang specific rule sa Matrimonial Causes Act na nagsasabing kapag umabot na sa 10 years, 12 years o anumang particular number of years ang marriage, automatic nang matrimonial property ang premarital assets.

Ang duration of the marriage ay isa lamang sa mga factors na dapat tingnan ng court.

For example:

May bahay ka bago kayo nagpakasal.

Nagkaroon kayo ng long marriage.

Ginamit ninyo ang bahay bilang matrimonial home.

Nagkaroon kayo ng mga anak.

Ang asawa mo ang naging primary carer ng mga bata.

At pagkatapos ng divorce, kailangan pa rin niyang magkaroon ng suitable accommodation para sa mga anak.

Sa ganitong situation, hindi sapat na sabihin lamang:

“Bahay ko ito bago kami nagpakasal.”

The court will look at the bigger financial picture.

Automatic Bang 50/50?

No.

Isa ito sa pinakamalaking misunderstanding tungkol sa divorce.

Hindi porket maaaring isaalang-alang ng court ang premarital property ay automatic na entitled ang ex-spouse mo sa 50% ng property.

Financial settlements are highly fact-specific.

The court may need to consider:

• Gaano katagal ang marriage?
• May children ba?
• Sino ang magiging primary carer ng children?
• Ano ang income at earning capacity ng bawat spouse?
• Ano ang housing needs nila?
• May ibang properties, savings, pensions or investments ba?
• Paano ginamit ang premarital property during the marriage?
• May mortgage ba at sino ang nagbayad?
• May significant contributions ba ang bawat party?
• Sapat ba ang ibang matrimonial assets para matugunan ang needs ng dalawang parties?

Kaya dalawang divorce cases na parehong may premarital house ay maaaring magkaroon ng completely different outcomes.

What If the House Became the Family Home?

Ito ang particularly important.

Imagine na bumili ka ng house five years before marriage.

After the wedding, lumipat doon ang spouse mo.

For the next 15 years, iyon ang naging family home ninyo.

Doon kayo nagpalaki ng mga anak.

Ginamit ang family income para sa mortgage, improvements, bills at maintenance.

Then nag-divorce kayo.

The fact that you originally purchased the house before marriage remains relevant.

Pero hindi necessarily ibig sabihin na ituturing ng court na completely separate ang property from everything else that happened during the marriage.

Paano Mapoprotektahan ang Premarital Property?

Kung papasok ka sa marriage na may significant assets — halimbawa:

Property

Business

Savings

Investments

Inheritance

Family wealth

Overseas properties

— magandang pag-isipan ang prenuptial agreement bago kayo magpakasal.

Legally Binding Ba ang Prenup sa UK?

Sa England and Wales, hindi simpleng ordinary contract ang prenup na automatic na nagtatanggal sa power ng Family Court.

The court retains jurisdiction over the financial settlement.

However, the Supreme Court decision in Radmacher v Granatino established that appropriate weight should be given to a nuptial agreement, and such an agreement can have very significant effect where it was freely entered into, with proper understanding of its implications, and where it would be fair to hold the parties to it in the circumstances.

Kaya kung gusto mong magkaroon ng stronger protection, hindi magandang kumuha lamang ng template online at pareho kayong pumirma.

A properly prepared prenup should ideally involve proper financial disclosure, independent legal advice for each party, sufficient time before the wedding, absence of pressure or duress, and terms that are fair and properly drafted.

Can You Update a Prenup?

Yes, maaaring magkaroon ng review o postnuptial agreement kapag materially nagbago ang circumstances.

For example:

Nagkaroon kayo ng children.

Bumili kayo ng bagong property.

Nagkaroon ng malaking inheritance.

Lumaki nang considerable ang business.

Nagbago nang malaki ang financial circumstances ng pamilya.

Keeping the arrangements under review may help show what the parties intended regarding particular assets.

Huwag Umasa sa Pangalan sa Land Registry Lang

Another common mistake is thinking:

“Nasa pangalan ko lang ang bahay, therefore akin lang iyon.”

Ownership is obviously relevant, pero sa divorce financial proceedings, hindi lamang legal title ang pinag-uusapan.

The Family Court has wider powers when deciding financial arrangements following divorce.

That is why you should not transfer properties, hide assets, give property to relatives, or make major financial decisions simply because you are worried about a potential divorce without obtaining proper legal advice first.

Bottom Line

Kung bumili ka ng property bago kayo nagpakasal, that can be an important factor in your favour.

Pero:

“Bahay ko ito bago kami nagpakasal”

does not automatically mean:

“Walang possible claim ang asawa ko dito.”

At the same time, hindi rin ibig sabihin na automatic na entitled ang asawa mo sa kalahati.

Everything depends on the circumstances of the marriage, the nature and use of the property, the financial resources of both parties, their respective needs, the needs of any children, and the overall fairness of the financial settlement.

Kung mayroon kang significant assets bago magpakasal, prevention is usually better than trying to resolve the issue after the relationship has broken down.

Consider obtaining proper advice about a prenuptial agreement before marriage.

And kung nasa divorce proceedings ka na at may property kang pag-aari bago pa ang marriage, get legal advice before assuming either that the property is completely protected or that you have already lost half of it.

Need Advice About Divorce and Property?

Magsino Solicitors can advise on divorce, matrimonial finances, property issues and prenuptial agreements in England and Wales.

Email: don@magsinosolicitors.com

Every case is different. Proper advice should be based on your individual financial and family circumstances.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of financial proceedings on divorce will depend on the particular facts and circumstances of each case.