Virgin Islands Family Court Jurisdiction Over Marital Homestead and Personal Property

In the Virgin Islands, the Family Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the marital homestead and the personal property of the couple, but not over any other real property. See 16 V.I.C. 109(a)(4); 33 V.I.C. 2305(d); Dyndul v. Dyndul, 541 F.2d 132, 133-35, 13 V.I. 376 (3d Cir. 1976) (explaining the marital property distribution scheme in the Virgin Islands); Armstrong v. Armstrong, 266 F. Supp. 2d 385, 392 (D.V.I. App. Div. 2003). A "marital homestead" has been defined as any real property in which both a husband and wife reside during the marriage and that is owned by one or both of the spouses. See, e.g., Charles v. Charles, 788 F.2d 960, 964 n.8 (3d Cir. 1986); Armstrong, 266 F. Supp. 2d at 394.