North Dakota · Divorce—Without Children

North Dakota
Jury Instructions.

Instructions focused on identifying, valuing, and distributing marital property and debt.

Divorce—with children Divorce—without children Parents never married

North Dakota divorce

Debt and asset division calculator

Educational decision aid—not a court calculator. The worksheet stores nothing on this site. Confirm current statutes, appellate decisions, valuation dates, local rules, and required forms before use.

Equitable distribution—entire-estate approach

Value the entire marital estate and distribute it equitably under the Ruff-Fischer guidelines, with source and duration considered in the allocation.

Controlling-law starting point: N.D.C.C. §§ 14-05-24, 14-05-24.3. The calculator separates each item’s divisible and separate portions, restores the stated separate portion to its owner for analysis, then divides the net marital portion using the percentage the juror finds fair under controlling law.

Type	Item	Value / debt	Legal classification	Marital %	Separate owner	Award to	Acquired / source	Finding and evidence

Total assets listed$0.00

Total debts listed−$0.00

Net marital / divisible estate$0.00

Party A separate portion restored$0.00

Party B separate portion restored$0.00

Excess marital estate to divide$0.00

Required distribution findings

Marriage duration and the legal effect of duration

Short-termLong-termIntermediate / duration not controlling

Distribution method supported by North Dakota law and these facts

Equitable percentageRestore proven separate property, then split excessEqual community divisionOther legally supported method

Selected: Equitable percentage. A 50/50 split of the excess is the starting default in this worksheet and may be changed only with an explanation.

Marriage length and legally relevant datesProperty brought into the marriageGifts, inheritances, and third-party transfersTracing, commingling, and marital contribution or appreciationEach party’s income, needs, and economic circumstancesWaste, dissipation, misconduct, or debt-purpose findings where legally relevantTax effects, liquidity, and income-producing capacityWhat did each spouse bring to the marriage and what remains traceable?What do the Ruff-Fischer findings show regarding age, earning ability, duration, conduct, station, necessities, health, finances, and property source?Is an unequal division adequately explained, and are separate-property, dissipation, or valuation-date findings required?

What division of the marital estate is fair under the governing law?

Party A%Party B: 50%

Live calculated distribution

Party A awarded marital net$0.00Target at 50%: $0.00 · Separate portion: $0.00

Party B awarded marital net$0.00Target at 50%: $0.00 · Separate portion: $0.00

Balancing / equalization paymentNoneThis balances the assigned marital portions to the selected percentages; confirm whether a cash offset is legally and practically available.

Complete every used row, assign every item, explain each classification, and enter all legal findings before treating this as a completed draft.

North Dakota authority starting point: N.D.C.C. §§ 14-05-24, 14-05-24.3. Confirm current law and controlling appellate decisions. This worksheet does not resolve every exception, characterization date, appreciation, transmutation, reimbursement, valuation, tax, bankruptcy, or enforcement issue.

Instruction modules

Property and debt decisions.

Jurors complete the applicable modules independently before deliberation. Every material conclusion must identify the evidence and legal standard relied upon.

Debt & asset division

Identify, classify, value, and distribute property and obligations under the governing state law.

Determine the relevant classification date and marital estate
Classify each asset and debt
Resolve supported values and balances
Identify tracing, credits, or reimbursement claims
Apply the state’s distribution standard
Complete the proposed distribution worksheet

Additional North Dakota authorities to be insertedStatutes · court rules · official worksheets · controlling decisions · definitions

Required case-specific attachments

Every final instruction packet should include:

□01Verified current state authorities

□02Definitions used in the jurisdiction

□03Complete factor-by-factor verdict forms

□04Current support worksheet or calculator output

□05Case-specific stipulated and disputed facts

□06Effective date and legal-review notation

North DakotaJury Instructions.