Dissipation
Dissipation refers to one spouse wasting, spending, or destroying marital assets for a non-marital purpose, often as the marriage is breaking down. In Florida's equitable distribution scheme, if a spouse intentionally squanders marital money—on an affair, gambling, or hiding funds—within the two years before filing (or after), the court can charge that amount back to them when dividing property. This protects the other spouse from being shortchanged by the other's misconduct.
Last updated June 21, 2026
Legal Definition
Under F.S. §61.075, the intentional waste, depletion, or destruction of marital assets after the filing of the petition or within two years prior, for a purpose unrelated to the marriage, which the court may treat as an unequal distribution factor by assigning the dissipated value to the offending spouse.
Example
The court found dissipation when the husband withdrew $40,000 from the joint account to spend on his girlfriend.
Related Statutes
- 61.075
Related Terms
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