Marital Settlement Agreement

---
name: marital-settlement-agreement
description: Drafts Marital Settlement Agreements for divorce proceedings covering property division, spousal support, child custody, and enforceability provisions. Triggers on requests to draft MSAs, divorce settlement agreements, property settlement agreements, or marital dissolution contracts.
tags:
  - agreement
  - drafting
  - litigation
---

# Marital Settlement Agreement

Drafts a binding MSA resolving all divorce issues — property, support, custody — ready for court approval and incorporation into the final decree.

## Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

1. **Financial disclosures** — income statements, tax returns, account statements for both parties
2. **Property docs** — appraisals, deeds, titles, retirement statements, business valuations
3. **Debt records** — creditor statements with account numbers and balances
4. **Custody materials** — evaluations, existing parenting plans, school/medical records
5. **Prior agreements** — prenuptial agreements, temporary orders, mediation outcomes
6. **Jurisdictional info** — filing state, county, case number, community vs. equitable property regime

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Property Division (Article I)

**Marital Property Schedule** — itemize each asset:

| Column | Content |
|---|---|
| Asset description | Real property, accounts, vehicles, retirement, business interests |
| Identifier | APN, account #, VIN, plan #, EIN |
| FMV / Balance | Dollar value at valuation date |
| Awarded to | Receiving party |
| Notes | Encumbrances, buyout terms, QDRO needed, valuation method |

**Marital Debt Schedule** — itemize each debt: creditor, account #, balance, responsible party, hold-harmless obligation.

**Separate Property Confirmation** — list each party's separate property (pre-marital, gift, inheritance) with mutual disclaimer of interest.

### Step 2 — Spousal Support (Article II)

Draft one of:

**A. Support ordered** — specify: monthly amount, due date/method, duration, modifiability, step-down schedule, COLA, termination events (death, remarriage, cohabitation), tax treatment (post-TCJA: non-deductible/non-includable federally).

**B. Mutual waiver** — explicit knowing waiver of all current and future support rights with acknowledgment of consequences.

### Step 3 — Children (Article III)

**Custody & Parenting Plan:**
- Legal custody — joint/sole; decision domains (education, healthcare, religion)
- Physical custody — primary placement, weekday/weekend rotation
- Holiday/vacation schedule — odd/even alternation, notice requirements
- Transportation, communication with non-custodial parent
- Relocation — notice period, mileage threshold, consent/court approval
- Attach detailed parenting plan as exhibit

**Child Support:**
- Monthly amount with guideline calculation per state formula
- Health insurance responsibility and cost allocation
- Uninsured medical and childcare cost splits
- Duration (age of majority / HS graduation per state law)
- Post-secondary contribution terms if agreed
- Modification standard (material change in circumstances)

### Step 4 — General Provisions (Article IV)

Include all:
- **Mutual releases** — all claims except those preserved in this agreement
- **Representations** — full disclosure, opportunity for independent counsel (or knowing waiver), voluntary execution, fairness acknowledgment
- **Attorney's fees** — each bears own; prevailing party in enforcement recovers fees
- **Dispute resolution** — mediation before litigation; specify enforcement jurisdiction
- **Severability**, **governing law**, **integration**, **amendments** (written, signed by both)

### Step 5 — Execution Block

Include signature lines for both parties with dates, approval-as-to-form lines for counsel, and notary acknowledgments if required by local rules.

## Pitfalls

- **Regime mismatch** — confirm community property vs. equitable distribution; adapt division framework
- **Child support math** — always show state guideline calculation; courts reject unexplained deviations
- **Child support is non-waivable** — courts will not enforce waiver of a child's right to support
- **QDRO requirement** — flag every retirement account division needing a Qualified Domestic Relations Order
- **Tax treatment** — post-TCJA (2019+): alimony non-deductible/non-includable federally; verify state conformity
- **Pension tracing** — distinguish community interest from separate contributions; use time rule or applicable tracing method
- **Specificity** — use exact amounts, dates, account numbers, legal descriptions; vague terms invite post-decree litigation
- **Exhibit cross-references** — verify every exhibit letter/number matches its attachment
- **Filing readiness** — include caption, case number, proper pagination, TOC for lengthy agreements