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Retirement Benefits in a Divorce Settlement Agreement

Posted by Josh Valentine | Nov 19, 2019

Retirement benefits are a unique asset in North Carolina divorce cases. Retirement benefits may consist of Social Security benefits, 401(k) savings, IRAs, a pension, or other types of retirement savings. These may have accumulated before and during the marriage. For people under the age of retirement, it may still be a number of years before they can begin withdrawing the benefits. However, after a divorce, the couple will likely want to settle all shared assets as soon as possible. 

There are a number of options for separating or divorcing couples who have a shared interest in retirement benefits. If you have any questions about retirement benefits or other assets to divide in a divorce or separation in North Carolina, talk to the experienced divorce attorneys at Caulder & Valentine. 

Retirement Benefits May Be a Joint Asset

Retirement benefits earned during the marriage are generally considered marital property in North Carolina. These assets are subject to equitable distribution between the spouses upon divorce. A domestic relations order may provide that a divorced spouse gets a share of a pension or other retirement benefit. However, some retirement plans will not make direct payments to former spouses.

Settlement Agreement to Limit Retirement Benefits

A common approach is to negotiate restricted rights to retirement benefits in the settlement agreement. By giving the rights to retirement benefits to one spouse, the benefits can generally stay put and be accessed as anticipated, upon retirement. In order to be enforced, such agreements generally need to be agreed to by both parties. 

Social Security Benefits 

Limiting the rights to retirement benefits in a settlement agreement can even apply to some Social Security payments. However, it generally does not apply to ex-spousal Social Security benefits. The amount of benefits a divorced spouse gets has no effect on the amount of benefits the working spouse has or benefits for a new spouse if the working spouse remarries.

Benefits as a divorced spouse are generally equal to one-half of your ex-spouse's full retirement amount, if taken at full retirement age. To be eligible for ex-spouse benefits, the individual would be available where: 

  • Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer; 
  • You are unmarried; 
  • You are age 62 or older; 
  • Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits; and
  • The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work.

Should I Take More Money Now Instead of Retirement Benefits Later?

It can be complicated to balance the value of retirement assets at a time when they are not accessible. Some divorcing spouses take an asset like the family home in lieu of retirement assets. However, over time the property may lose value or require regular repairs and expenses while the value of the retirement account continues to appreciate. Before signing away your rights to retirement benefits, make sure you understand the full value in the present and in the future for any shared marital property. 

North Carolina Divorce Lawyers in Shelby

If you have any questions about retirement benefits in a divorce and how giving up rights to retirement assets will affect you in the future, the skilled attorneys at Caulder & Valentine are here to help. Contact us today for a consultation.

About the Author

Josh Valentine

You could say Josh has a God-given ability for sustaining long-term relationships. He and his wife first met in elementary school and went to Gardner Webb University (GWU) together, where they tied for number 1 in their class. Then, they both started law school on the same day of their graduation and got married during their first semester. He has also known his law partner Blake Caulder since Kindergarten. Theirs is the perfect partnership. “He’s the brake; I am the accelerator,” Josh says. Both Josh and his wife attended an innovative program at Charlotte Law School that allowed them to complete law school in two years instead of the typical three. His wife graduated and passed the North Carolina bar at age 20, becoming one of the youngest attorneys in the state. He readily admits she’s smarter than him. Of course, Josh went on to pass the North Carolina State Bar himself and later the South Carolina State Bar. While in school, he was Associate Editor of the Law Review and received accolades like Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society membership, Order of the Crown, Pro Bono Honors, CALI Awards (highest grade). In his career as a lawyer, he has been admitted to the United States Federal Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, and completed training for DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Josh has also been named to the Top 40 Under 40 for Criminal Defense by The National Trial Lawyers, the Business North Carolina 2019 Legal Elite for Criminal Defense, and the 10 Best Attorneys for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys three years in a row (2016, 2017, and 2018). Community involvement has been important to Josh all his life. In high school, he participated in building a Holocaust museum that has become internationally regarded. He and his wife are actively engaged in animal rescue, which currently means seven cats and two kittens. He served in prison ministry and assisted with fundraiser banquets there, and he provides pro bono and reduced fee legal services to those in need. As if all of that weren’t enough, Josh also mentors high risk youth and helps with his church’s youth group. He participates in other community volunteer projects involving construction, remodeling, drywall, painting, and landscaping. He’s an active student of the Bible and has traveled to Israel, Brazil, and Europe for mission work. No one can say Josh isn’t a well-rounded individual. In his spare time, he likes to play softball, basketball, and tennis, and he can play the piano and trombone. Sometimes on weekends, believe it or not, he enjoys pouring and finishing concrete with friends who own a concrete and grading business. In his law practice, Josh has made it a point to develop positive relationships with officers, clerks, and district attorneys, which has proven invaluable in delivering positive results for his clients. It’s important to him to both listen to his clients and fight for them. Law enforcement officers have important responsibilities to keep our communities safe and uphold the law, but one of the responsibilities of attorneys is to make sure officers do their job correctly. Josh considers it his job to hold them accountable for their actions. Josh is a person of deep faith. He knows that the established order of our universe and strength of America’s Judeo-Christian influenced court system is built on God’s word. His passion to serve each client with innovation, excellence and integrity is a byproduct of his faith. When asked why he became a lawyer, Josh says, “All through my life, I have personally witnessed family members and very close friends endure divorce, child custody battles, bankruptcy, civil lawsuits, and even fraudulent criminal accusations. I both saw and experienced the stress such events can place on an individual, and I realized that everyone, at some point in their life, needs hope, comfort, and encouragement. In each one of those situations, the person who was best situated to provide that vital support was their lawyer. So that’s why I became an attorney. I understand what you are going through, and I’m here to help you. Our office is focused on meeting your needs and guiding you through what may be the most difficult time of your life.” Education: Charlotte School of Law J.D., Magna Cum Laude Class Rank – 21 of 328 Associate Editor of Charlotte School of Law Law Review Certification and Concentration in Employment Law Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society Order of the Crown Pro Bono Honors CALI Awards (Highest Grade)—Lawyering Process I and Contracts I Full Scholarship Gardner-Webb University B.S. in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude Distinguished Senior Student Award – Highest GPA Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honorary Society Bar Admissions: North Carolina State Bar

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