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The Daily Insight

What does involuntary separation mean?

Author

John Thompson

Published May 14, 2026

Involuntary Separation means the termination of a Member’s employment with the Company as a result of Company action such as a discharge, a resignation after a reduction in pay, position or responsibilities, a retirement after the Company has requested such Member to resign or retire, a layoff, or any relocation of the …

Is severance pay a marital asset?

Severance pay earned through employment during marriage is marital property even if received after divorce.

Is involuntary separation pay taxable?

Taxes will be withheld on involuntary separation payments. The withholding is typically 25% of the payment.

Is layoff considered involuntary termination?

Layoff – This is an involuntary employment termination initiated by the employer for non-disciplinary reasons. A layoff does not necessarily mean that employees will be rehired when the company is once again in a hiring mode.

Is severance community property?

When received for employment during marriage and before separation, severance pay is community property. Sometimes a spouse is terminated after the date of separation but receives severance pay for employment during the marriage.

Is severance pay considered income for spousal support California?

CASE LAW IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING SEVERANCE PAY In the case of In re Marriage of Horn, the court found that Husband’s severance pay was a divisible asset and Wife was therefore entitled to a portion of the pay. So, like future earnings, such severance pay was treated as income that may be used in calculating support.

What’s the difference between laid off and terminated?

Being fired means you are terminated from your job due to something that the company deems was your fault. If you are laid off, that means the company deems that they are at fault. For example, a professional could be fired for habitual tardiness, stealing or other types of negative behavior.

Is severance pay community property in California?

It is possible that severance pay may be partially community property and not necessarily 50/50. The Lehman case dealt with an early retirement benefit that the employer gave the employee and which the employed spouse had not accrued at any point during the marriage.