In New York State, the law provides for an “equitable distribution” of assets and liabilities that were accumulated throughout the duration of a marriage. The majority of the accumulated assets obtained during the marriage are considered to be marital with a few exceptions. The first step in determining equitable distribution is to evaluate the total assets and liabilities. If an individual is considering filing for divorce, it is important that he or she determines what constitutes marital and separate property as early as possible.