APPRECIATION OF PROPERTY

Mol v. Mol, 147 N.J. Super. 5, 370 A.2d 509 (1977). Courts look at the efforts put in by the parties, and any appreciation due to inflation or market forces is purely separate property.

Painter v. Painter, 65 N.J. 196, 320 A.2d 484, 493 (1974); Weiss v. Weiss, 543 A.2d 1062 (N.J. App. 1988), Berrie v. Berrie, 252 N.J. Super 635, 600 A.2d 512 (App. Div. 1991). Increases in value are marital only when the non-owning spouse provides services that contribute to the appreciation; but the court has also ruled that homemaking services and part-time work at the owner’s business makes the increase marital.

To learn more about the appreciation of property in divorce, consult our explanation here.