Many New Jersey residents join country clubs for the social, recreational and business contacts and opportunities they provide. Children, too, can benefit from friendships developed in the country club pool, tennis courts or golf courses.
When divorce looms and you’re dividing up the spoils of your marriage, the country club membership remains a very important asset.
Can I fight for the club membership?
One interesting thing about country club memberships is that one member applies. If they are accepted, their spouse and any children are considered associate members under the member spouse’s account. Almost universally, the spouses holding the membership are the husbands.
That’s a private club rule that the member spouse agreed to upon joining, so in most cases, you will not be able to wrangle the membership in your name.
Club memberships are still valued assets
Despite the rigid membership rules, your share of the family membership still has great value that can be used as leverage for another asset of approximate value. Since club memberships can have very high initial membership dues, as well as annual dues and monthly fees, you could potentially angle for the shore house or even full interest in the family home as compensation for losing all of the club benefits.
You need to strategize in high-asset divorces
When the stakes are high, strategy is key. Although you may be grieving the loss of your marriage and the life you once enjoyed together, now is the time to plan ahead. You want to walk away from your marriage with the resources and assets you will need to start over when writing the next chapter of your life.