Gifts During Marriage In Florida

Under well-established statutory and case law, an interspousal gift during the marriage is a marital asset. See 61.075(3), Fla. Stat. (1997); Colley v. Colley, 745 So. 2d 1125, 1999 Fla. where reason for the trial court's unequal distribution of marital debt is readily apparent from the record, the trial court's failure to make the specific findings concerning the distribution would be viewed as harmless error. A trial court may avoid the obligation to divide marital assets equally by making written findings justifying the decision. See Silber v. Negrin, 745 So. 2d 523, 1999 Fla. The reviewing court should determine whether competent substantial evidence supports the equitable distribution of marital assets. See Kaplan v. Kaplan, 744 So. 2d 1201, 1999 Fla. The standard of review is whether the trial court abused its discretion in distributing marital assets. See id. the final judgment may offer support for the trial court's equitable distribution even though the relevant findings are not properly labeled as finding of fact pursuant to section 61.075(3), Florida Statutes (1997). See McMullan v. McMullan, 1999 Fla.