Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
Energy rights, pensions, real estate — North Dakota's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in gray divorce for 50+
Turn Panic Into Power — $97Oil royalties from the Bakken. Multi-generational farm operations. Military pensions from Grand Forks or Minot AFB. In North Dakota, the assets you've built over decades are complex — and standard divorce advice doesn't apply. Most attorneys understand the law, but few understand how to properly value mineral rights, royalty income streams, or agricultural operations. One wrong assumption about what's "marital property" versus "separate property" could cost you hundreds of thousands.
That $8,000/month oil royalty you've been receiving — is it marital income even if the mineral rights were inherited? Can your spouse claim a share of family farmland that's been in your family for generations? Will you lose Tricare coverage if you're one month short of the 20/20/20 rule? These aren't hypothetical questions. They're the decisions that will determine whether you retire comfortably or struggle financially for the rest of your life.
You need clarity before you negotiate. The Fearless Divorce Guide gives you a step-by-step system to understand exactly what you own, what you're entitled to, and what your post-divorce life will actually look like — before you sign anything. Built specifically for people 50+ navigating gray divorce, this guide transforms overwhelming complexity into clear, confident action.
The 5-step system that shows you what you'll actually live on, so you stop guessing and start knowing.
Calculate your real post-divorce income — including oil royalties, pension benefits, and retirement accounts — so you negotiate from facts, not fear.
Document gathering checklists tell you exactly what to bring to your attorney — so you walk in prepared, not panicked.
Map out your real expenses as a single person — before you fight for something you can't actually maintain.
The asset identification system helps you find accounts and property you might not even know exist.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
$97
Instant access. 100% money-back guarantee.
Get the Clarity You Need — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in North Dakota, you're likely dealing with something most people don't talk about: the complete shift in your financial future when child-related issues are no longer the focus. Your children may be grown and financially independent, which means your entire divorce becomes about protecting and dividing decades of accumulated wealth.
This is especially overwhelming if you've never personally managed the household finances—and you're certainly not alone. Many of our North Dakota clients are navigating complex financial decisions for the first time during divorce, often involving oil royalties from the Bakken formation, multi-generational agricultural operations, military pensions and benefits from Grand Forks Air Force Base or Minot Air Force Base, or retirement savings built in North Dakota's low-tax environment.
Why North Dakota is different: North Dakota uses equitable distribution (not the strict 50/50 split of community property states), which gives courts flexibility in dividing property based on fairness. Plus, North Dakota has one of the lowest state income tax rates in the nation (1.1-2.9% graduated), creating unique planning opportunities. The state's oil boom over the past 15 years has created unprecedented wealth—and unprecedented complexity in divorce cases involving mineral rights, royalty interests, and energy sector income.
The fear-to-strength progression: Right now, you might be feeling panic about losing your share of the family farm, oil royalties that supplement your retirement, or military benefits earned through decades of service. That's normal. But here's what we do together: we turn that panic into power by understanding exactly what North Dakota law means for YOUR situation, protecting your separate property (especially inherited agricultural land), properly valuing hard-to-appraise assets like mineral rights and farm operations, and building a post-divorce financial plan that gives you confidence and security in North Dakota's unique economic environment.
Here's what that really means for your situation: Unlike California or Texas where community property rules apply, North Dakota courts divide marital property based on what's "equitable" and "just" under your specific circumstances—not automatically 50/50.
What counts as marital property in North Dakota:
What counts as separate property in North Dakota:
The equitable distribution factors North Dakota courts consider:
North Dakota has one of the most favorable tax environments in the nation for retirees.
North Dakota's graduated income tax system ranges from just 1.1% to 2.9% (among the lowest in the country), which creates unique advantages for divorce financial planning—especially for gray divorce where retirement income planning is paramount.
Why this matters in divorce:
Planning opportunity: If you're considering relocation after divorce, North Dakota's tax advantages compared to higher-tax states (like Minnesota, California, or New York) could mean tens of thousands of dollars saved over retirement. However, for those with deep roots in agriculture, oil and gas income, or military connections, staying in North Dakota often makes the most financial sense.
North Dakota's oil boom transformed the state's economy—and created complex divorce scenarios involving mineral rights, royalty interests, and energy sector wealth that many couples never anticipated when they married.
Key oil and gas division issues:
For those new to oil and gas: A mineral right is the right to extract oil and gas from beneath your land. A royalty interest means you receive a percentage (typically 12.5%-20%) of the revenue from oil production without paying drilling costs. These can be incredibly valuable—but also volatile and difficult to value in divorce.
Common scenario: Your family farm includes mineral rights inherited from your grandparents. In 2010, oil was discovered on the property, and you've been receiving $8,000-$15,000/month in royalties (fluctuating with oil prices). Are the mineral rights separate property? Is the royalty income marital? How do you value an asset that could produce income for 20+ years but is entirely dependent on commodity prices?
North Dakota is one of the most agricultural states in the nation, and many gray divorce cases involve farms and ranches that have been in families for 3-4 generations. These operations blend family legacy, business operations, and complex asset structures.
Agricultural property division challenges:
Emotional complexity: Farm divorces aren't just about money—they're about family legacy, identity, and a way of life. We help you find solutions that protect your financial future while honoring what matters most.
North Dakota is home to two major Air Force bases (Grand Forks AFB and Minot AFB), and many gray divorce cases involve military retirement benefits, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) elections, and Tricare health coverage that require specialized knowledge.
Military divorce financial issues:
Critical timing: For those close to the 20/20/20 or 10/10 thresholds, the timing of your divorce can have massive financial consequences. Understanding whether to wait a few months could save you tens of thousands in healthcare costs and benefits.
North Dakota has a mix of public sector pensions (NDPERS for state employees and teachers), private sector 401(k) plans, agricultural retirement savings, and military pensions that create diverse retirement landscapes.
Retirement division considerations:
For those new to pensions: A pension is a promise to pay you monthly income in retirement based on your years of service and salary. Unlike a 401(k) you can see and control, pensions are managed by your employer or the state. The marital portion belongs to both spouses, even if only one worked.
If you're over 50 and not yet 65 (Medicare-eligible), health insurance becomes one of the most important—and expensive—issues in your divorce. North Dakota's healthcare landscape requires careful planning.
Health insurance options after divorce:
Planning strategy: Health insurance costs should be factored into your spousal support and property division negotiations. If you're the lower-earning spouse and will lose employer coverage, the 3-year COBRA runway plus 2-3 years until Medicare can guide your spousal support term.
North Dakota law allows courts to award spousal support when appropriate, and in gray divorce cases (especially where one spouse sacrificed career for family or farm), spousal support often plays a significant role.
North Dakota spousal support factors:
Tax note: For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer tax-deductible for the payer or taxable income for the recipient. This changed the financial math significantly.
Duration and modification: Spousal support can be temporary, rehabilitative, or permanent (rare). It's modifiable based on substantial change in circumstances, and typically ends upon remarriage or death.
Your situation is unique. You're not just dividing a house and retirement accounts. You might be dealing with:
This is exactly why you need a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) who understands North Dakota's unique economic landscape. Someone who can:
Click below for location-specific financial guidance tailored to your community:
We specialize in gray divorce—divorces where you're over 50, the kids are grown, and the entire focus is on protecting your financial future. We understand the unique fears and challenges you're facing.
We speak North Dakota: We understand oil royalties, farm operations, military benefits, and the cultural and economic realities of life in North Dakota. We know that your farm isn't just an asset—it's your family legacy and identity.
We translate complex into clear: Whether you've managed the household finances for years or you're seeing the full financial picture for the first time, we make sure you understand every decision and feel confident in your choices.
We're educators and coaches, not attorneys: We work alongside your attorney to handle the financial strategy, analysis, and planning—so you get specialized expertise on both the legal and financial sides.
Get the financial clarity you need before you sign anything. The Fearless Divorce Guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to — and what your post-divorce life will actually look like.
Turn Panic Into Power — $97 Schedule a Consultation