ONE SPOUSE WASTING OR IMPROPERLY DISPOSING MARITAL ASSETS

If one spouse in a marriage improperly destroys, steals, hides, or frivolously spends martial assets, the Judge in your dissolution proceeding can be asked to account for the lost portion of the community's property. This is even true if said "waste" occurred prior to the divorce commencing. So if your spouse took assets, destroyed furniture or blew your hard-earned savings on the newer model, you can ask the Court to compensate you, usually from the remaining assets that have not been taken or destroyed. Be careful though, a Judge under Arizona law cannot divide property to punish someone for misconduct or infidelity. However, the fraudulent or wasteful use of marital property can be used by good lawyer to sometimes influence the court's decisions, especially when awarding attorney's fees.