New Jersey Divorce and Family Lawyer Blog
On September 20, 2016, the Internet was buzzing with reports of Angelina Jolie-Pitt filing for divorce from her long time partner of twelve years and husband of two years, Brad Pitt. The demise of
Angelina Jolie-Pitt’s and Brad Pitt’s two year marriage raises questions about the division of their assets in divorce. “The couple have six children together–and more than half a billion dollars worth in cumulative earnings,” according to Forbes.com. “Since their marriage in 2014, the duo have earned a combined $117.5 million before taxes and fees, per Forbes’ estimates. Pitt made the bulk of that cash, with some $76.5 million banked–nearly double Angelina’s take home in that period.” The pair have been together since 2004. During that time Brad Pitt earned an estimated $315.5 million pretax, according to Forbes.
Jolie and Pitt’s relationship began in 2004, a decade before their marriage in 2014. At the time, Jolie had an adopted son, Maddox and, while dating Pitt, she adopted a daughter, Zahara. Pitt later legally adopted Maddox and Zahara. In May 2006, Jolie and Pitt had their first child together, daughter Shiloh. In 2007, they adopted a son, Pax. In 2008, twins Knox and Vivienne were born. Seven years and six children later, Pitt proposed in 2012, and they were married in 2014.
Given that the parties were in a relationship for twelve years but married for two years, the question becomes what will happen with their estate in the divorce? This is not an unusual circumstance. Many couples are now living in a relationship akin to marriage for many years prior to marrying. While it is unknown if they have a prenuptial or a post-nuptial agreement, in New Jersey, the initial inquiry when addressing property division in a divorce is on the classification of property as marital or premarital. The court is authorized to distribute equitably “. . . the property, both real and personal, which was legally and beneficially acquired by them (the spouses) or either of them during the marriage. However, all such property, real, personal or otherwise, legally or beneficially acquired during the marriage or civil union by either party by way of gift, devise, or intestate succession shall not be subject to equitable distribution, except that inter-spousal gifts or gifts between partners in a civil union couple shall be subject to equitable distribution. N.J.S.A. § 2A:34-23(h). In the case of the Jolie/Pitts, this means that only property acquired during their two year marriage, not their entire twelve year relationship, would be subject to equitable distribution pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 2A:34-23(h).
Although, N.J.S.A. § 2A:34-23(h) only permits equitable distribution of property legally and beneficially acquired during marriage and does not permit equitable distribution of property legally or beneficially acquired by parties prior to marriage, equitable remedies such as (1) resulting trust, (2) constructive trust, (3) quantum meruit, (4) quasi- contract, and (5) transmutation are available under the proper factual circumstances, to a spouse laying claim to assets acquired by the other spouse during the period of cohabitation prior to marriage. In addition, the family court is a court of equity. Facts, not principles of law, decide cases. Bendix Corp. v. Dir. Div. of Taxation, 125 N.J. 20, 41 (1991). The law is not to be applied in the abstract, but must be considered in light of the facts in an individual case. Hanover Ins. Co. v. Franke, 75 N.J. Super. 68, 74 (App. Div.1962), certif. denied, 38 N.J. 308 (1962). Accordingly, the court may give full range to equitable doctrines in dealing with matrimonial controversies. See Kazin v. Kazin, 81 N.J. 85, 94 (1979). Depending on the circumstances, an equitable adjustment of the rights of the parties may vary from one case to another.
The court may impose a resulting trust where one party purchases property with consideration furnished in whole or in part by the other party with the intention by the title holder to hold the title in trust for the party providing the consideration. D’Ippolito v. Castoro, 51 N.J. 584, 588–89 (1968). The constructive trust theory, the quasi -contract theory, and quantum meruit theory are not based upon any actual intent of the parties, but may be imposed by the court to prevent an unjust enrichment. Kozlowski v. Kozlowski, 80 N.J. 378, 390-391 (1979). The goal of these claims is to avoid a grossly inequitable result if N.J.S.A. 2A:34–23 were to be strictly applied. Rolle v. Rolle, 219 N.J. Super. 528, 534 (Ch. Div. 1987). Justice Pashman, in writing the concurring opinion in D’Ippolito, discussed the availability of these remedies, where cohabiting parties did not marry, as follows:
“The question which remains is whether quasi-contractual and equitable remedies should also be available to the parties upon dissolution of their relationship. Most unwed persons who choose to cohabit likely do so ‘in ignorance of the (financial) consequences of either marriage or non-marriage’ and ‘with absolutely no thought given to the legal consequences of their relationship.’”
In Coney v. Coney, 207 N.J. Super. 63,75 (Ch. Div. 1985), the Court stated, “Given this circumstance, it would be unwise to require some form of contract as a prerequesite to relief in the courts. Rather, we should presume ‘that the parties intend(ed) to deal fairly with each other’ upon dissolution of the relationship, and consequently, in the absence of agreement, ‘employ the doctrine of quantum meruit, or equitable remedies such as constructive or resulting trusts’ in order to insure that one party has not been unjustly enriched, and the other unjustly impoverished, on account of their dealings.” Id.
“Transmutation is another judicially created doctrine where the courts are willing to go beyond the basic stricture of statutory classification of separate and marital property, where the strictures would lead to inequitable results.” Id. “According to this theory, property that once was classified as separate or non-marital can be transmuted into marital property when the spouse with title represents to the other spouse that the property will be shared.” Id.
So, if Jolie and Pitt were divorcing in New Jersey, it is possible that their claims against each other would not be limited to their two year marriage, but could be expanded to include the ten years they were not married. However, if Jolie and Pitt have a prenuptial agreement, there are two possible outcomes. First, the prenuptial agreement, if enforceable, could negate any of the previously mentioned claims of relief and the parties will receive what they contracted for in the prenuptial agreement. In the alternative, if the agreement is not enforceable, then the previously mentioned contract remedies are available. A prenuptial agreement (also called antenuptial agreement or premarital agreement) is a contract that parties enter into before a marriage (or a civil union) in which they make provisions for equitable distribution of assets and/or spousal support in the event of a divorce. One New Jersey Court stated, “antenuptial agreements fixing post-divorce rights and obligations [are] … valid and enforceable” and courts should “welcome and encourage such agreements at least ‘to the extent that the parties have developed comprehensive and particularized agreements responsive to their peculiar circumstances’.” D’Onofrio v. D’Onofrio, 200 N.J. Super. 361, 366 (App. Div. 1985). A prenuptial agreement will not be enforced if there is clear and convincing evidence that:
a. The party executed the agreement involuntarily; or
b. The agreement was unconscionable when it was executed because that party, before execution of the agreement:
(1) Was not provided full and fair disclosure of the earnings, property and financial obligations of the other party;
(2) Did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided;
(3) Did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party; or
(4) Did not consult with independent legal counsel and did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, the opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel.
The analysis of the Jolie/Pitt impending divorce does not cease there. If they did not enter into a prenuptial agreement, perhaps they entered into a post-nuptial agreement, sometimes referred to as a mid-marriage agreement. The Prenuptial Agreement Act does not apply to an agreement reached between people already married. The case law surrounding the appropriateness and enforceability of post-marital agreements are sparse, three cases being the hub and spokes of this area of the law.
The first of the cases to discuss the viability of a post-nuptial agreement is the trial level decision in Barbour v Barbour, 51 N.J. Eq. 267 (Ch. Div 1892), where the trial court enforced a post-Nuptial Agreement between married people who had separated and entered into an economic agreement as part of the reconciliation process. That decision of the trial court was overtured by the Appellate Division, not because such an agreement is unenforceable per se but because the particular agreement in that case had not been reduced to writing. Barbour v. Barbour, 51 N.J. Eq. 267 (E&A 1893). Importantly, neither court found that such a post-nuptial agreement violated the public policy of the State or that such an agreement would infringe State’s interest in the continuity of marriage. Barbour clearly established that this State’s common law supports the ability of married people to contract during their marriage regarding their marital rights and obligations in divorce.
The more modern case of Nicholson v Nicholson, 199 N. J. Super. 525 ( App Div 1985), looked at the Barbour decision after the passage of many years and the application of more current law, and found that Barbour was still good law. In affirming the ability of married people to contract regarding marital rights, the Court set forth definitive rules to be considered in determining if a Mid-Marriage Agreement should be enforced in equity:
1) that the promise to reconcile was made when there was a current marital rift;
2) That to the extent necessary the agreement conform with the Statute Of Frauds;
3) The terms of the agreement must be conscionable when made;
4) The party seeking enforcement must have acted in good faith.
Accordingly, Nicholson stands for the proposition that an uncontrived marital rift would be sufficient justification for a well thought out and fair mid-marriage agreement, the consideration for which would be the reconciliation or good faith attempted reconciliation of the parties.
The third and most recent case to address the nature and enforceability of post-nuptial agreements is Pacelli v. Pacelli, 319 N.J. Super. 185 (App Div 1999). Looking to Nicholson as the polestar of it’s determination, the Appellate Division in Pacelli found that parties could enter into a Mid-Marriage Agreement provided there was a true marital rift and the agreement was fair and equitable both when made and when enforcement is sought.
As can be seen the factual circumstances of the Jolie and Pitt divorce are not so simple. The divorce of Jolie and Pitt brings to the fore front many considerations overlooked in long term relationships that end after a short marriage. If you are in involved in divorce resulting form a short marriage, but your relationship existed for many years, under the right circumstances there may be a basis for arguing that equitable distribution should not be limited to the duration of the marriage, or limited to assets acquired during the marriage. An attorney should be sure to make the necessary inquiry as to all claims available to their client and raise them early on in the proceedings.