Frequent Flyer Miles And Rewards Points In A Fort Lauderdale Divorce

When couples filing for divorce in Fort Lauderdale consider dividing marital property, they often focus on their home, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and other valuable assets. However, they frequently overlook the airline miles you accumulated over years of business travel and the credit card rewards points built up from past purchases.

These assets have real value and deserve the same careful attention as anything else on your financial disclosure. Our experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney explains how Florida law handles these often-overlooked assets.

How the Broward County Family Court Classifies Airline Miles and Credit Card Points as Marital Property

Busy Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport serves as a hub for multiple carriers, which makes travel rewards, including frequent flyer miles and hotel points, more valuable. When making credit card purchases, whether at home or on a trip, rewards points can save you significant money.

If accumulated during the marriage, they are subject to equitable division under Section 61.075 of the Florida Statutes. Here’s what you need to know about dividing these assets:

• Even if the miles or points are on one spouse’s account, they are still marital property.
• Airlines, hotels, and credit card companies tend to be vague about the actual cash value of points, making it hard for one spouse to buy out the other.
• You can elect to trade the total value of the points for other marital property that has the same value.
• Consider redeeming the points together before the divorce is finalized and dividing the redeemed value, which sidesteps transfer restrictions.

Accounting for these assets early in the divorce process prevents them from being overlooked or quietly retained by one spouse.

Strategies for Dividing Rewards Accounts in a Broward County Divorce

There are several practical approaches Fort Lauderdale couples can take to address miles and award points in their divorce settlement. Whether you can split these assets or negotiate other arrangements, the following strategies can help in getting what you are entitled to:

• Research the specific terms and conditions of each loyalty program before settlement negotiations begin.
• Carefully review transfer fees and expiration dates.
• Work with an experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney who understands how to value and negotiate non-traditional assets.
• Include specific language in your settlement agreement that addresses what happens if the designated account holder fails to cooperate with negotiated arrangements.

Treating miles and points with the same seriousness as any other marital assets helps avoid leaving real money on the table.

Request a Consultation Today With An Experienced Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney

Property division in a Broward County divorce involves far more than homes and bank accounts, and the details matter. At The Law Office of Sandra Bonfiglio, P.A., we help Fort Lauderdale clients identify, value, and negotiate all marital assets, including those that often get overlooked.

To get the maximum amount you need to make a fresh start financially, contact our office. Request a consultation today with an experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney.

Sources:

broward.org/Airport/Pages/default.aspx

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.075.html