When you’re doing a 1031 exchange you want to go from apples to apples. If Stephon owns the relinquished property, Stephon has to buy the replacement property. Maybe Stephon bought the property prior to getting married and owns it in his own name alone, without his spouse in title. Whose property is it for federal tax purposes? In non community property states, a spouse that is married still owns the property and their spouse only has an intangible interest in their property until a divorce decree states that non-titled spouse has an interest in the property, they don’t have an interest in the property. When Stephon sells his relinquished property in a 1031 exchange, Stephon should be the one who purchases the replacement property because Stephon’s exchange funds need to be used exclusively for the purchase of his replacement property. He can’t siphon off some of his equity to pay for his spouse’s portion of the property that’s being purchased.
What if your spouse absolutely wants to go into title with you? Perhaps the spouse can pony up some money and pay for their proportionate share of the property. Maybe it’s 99% Stephon and 1% Stephon’s spouse and that money that is contributed comes from the spouse’s own funds, whereas the 1031 funds are used exclusively for the 1031 exchange portion of the purchase. That way you can have both spouses on title, which may be a requirement of your lender, but we aren’t jeopardizing the exchange.
Now, laws differ from state to state. In community property states where a spouse may be considered to have an ownership interest in the real estate even if they’re not in title, that can change the analysis. So it’s always important to consult with local counsel so you can get the best advice specific to your situation.
Defer the tax. Maximize your gain.
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