How Do We Split Up the Money in our Bank Accounts?

When you divorce in Utah, you have to extricate your entire lives. This means you have to split everything you have in some form or fashion: kids, money, cars, toys, homes, etc., etc., etc.

One of the most common things divorcing couples have to split is bank accounts. And splitting bank accounts is tricky because it happens at the very beginning of the divorce process. In fact, it almost always happens long before people file for divorce in Utah.

The reason for this is people usually split the account when they separate. They don’t wait to finalize their divorce to take money out of the accounts.

So, this leads us to the question: how do we split up the money in our bank accounts?

The answer is pretty straightforward: you divide it equally.

I have never had a judge get mad at my client for taking 50% of the money in a bank account when they separated from their spouse. Now, I have had a judge very upset when the other side took 95% of the bank account. That sort of behavior will get you judge-slapped (as it were) every time.

So, if you’re going to leave your spouse, take 50% of the joint accounts and put them in a separate account. Separate as in your spouse’s name is not on the account and he or she cannot access it. And don’t feel bad about doing this; it has to happen at some point anyway.

But what if my spouse and I kept separate accounts in our marriage? 

Sometimes people are married but have their own accounts and do not mix monies. I personally think this is really unhealthy behavior for married people to engage in, but whatever works.

In situations like this, the money will still — almost certainly — be considered marital funds subject to 50/50 division. Just because marital money is in separate accounts does not mean it isn’t marital money.

Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
Based on 970 reviews
Daniel is guy who truly wants to help. Working with him never feels transactional. He truly does provide you with tailored solutions for divorce which is rarely a "cut and paste" situation. Thanks again for your help Daniel!
David and Dani were very helpful and made my case as stress free as possible.
Great Team. Efficient and smooth process. Excellent communication. Thank you David Hunt.
I’m so grateful for attorney Nicholas Schwarz and paralegal Carren Leavitt at Brown Family Law. From day one, they were ready to work with me immediately, making my case feel like a top priority. Their organization is exceptional, every detail was handled with care and efficiency. Most importantly, their commitment to communication stood out. They kept me informed every step of the way, answered questions promptly, and made sure I fully understood my options.

If you want a legal team that is proactive, organized, and truly dedicated to their clients, I highly recommend Nicholas and Carren at Brown Family Law.
They got my dovorce going and stayed in contact with me every week. Every step of the way anytime I had questions they were answered fast. They made it so much easier.
Clay was great to work with! He was very willing to explain everything I needed to know and helped me understand the options on my case. Very easy to work with.
Jennifer and Dani, as well the rest of the team went above and beyond when it came to my case.
I would highly recommend ‘Brown Family Law’.
My experience with them was exceptional.
Alija
Loved working with Daniel and the whole team. Great service.
Marco and his team at Brown Family Law have created nearly the perfect system for getting divorced in Utah. From the initial intake, to gathering all of the necessary documentation, to the client communication in between. There is so much work that goes into getting divorced, but with Marco and his team you'll always know where you are in the process and what happens next, which is such a comfort. Would highly recommend.
I would give them 10 stars if I could. Clay was professional and super organized. He took the time to explain everything. I would highly recommend him for any family law needed. Melanie was a godsend. She not only kept me continually informed of the progress, she sent texts of encouragement and support throughout the entire process. I would give her 100 stars for going above and beyond to make this experience less stressful. Her encouragement and genuine caring were comforting and calming. The entire staff at Brown Law are on your side and if you are lucky enough to get Clay and Melanie on your team you will not be disappointed. Thanks! Mack M.
Response from the owner:Wow, thank you so much. Melanie is great. Glad she helped you so well.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories