Having individual legal representation during divorce proceedings is one of the best ways that divorcing couples can ensure that their marriages are dissolved as quickly and smoothly as possible. There are, however, other professionals who can also play a crucial role in helping couples divide their most valuable assets, come up with alimony agreements, and negotiate child custody arrangements. Determining who to contact for help with your own divorce can be difficult, so if you and your spouse have decided to file for divorce, you should consult with an experienced high asset divorce lawyer who can assist you in building a dedicated divorce team.

Business Valuators

Hiring a team of professionals can play an important part in helping a divorcing couple resolve their differences, especially when it comes to valuable, unique, or complex assets. For instance, many of those who are involved in high asset divorces own one or more business interests. In these cases, divorcing parties are usually encouraged to retain an experienced business valuator who can provide an accurate assessment of a company’s value. Taking this step is critical to ensuring that any property division agreements are equitable and fair to both parties.

Forensic Accountants

Couples with significant, unique, or especially valuable assets are much more at risk of having one spouse attempt to hide those assets from the other during a divorce. Hiring a forensic accountant is one of the best ways to prevent this type of behavior, as these individuals are uniquely equipped to identify and appraise assets through the in-depth analysis of financial records. It’s actually a good idea for any couples who are going through a high asset divorce to consult with a forensic accountant. This is true even for those who are not concerned about hidden assets, as it is not uncommon for couples with complicated investment portfolios to forget to account for certain valuable marital property.

Although some couples quickly follow up the decision to end their marriage with a divorce filing, it is also not uncommon for couples to carefully consider this option over a period of weeks or months before officially filing for divorce. Those who take the latter route have the benefit of extra time in which to plan for the termination of their marriage, which can make all the difference in how smoothly the later divorce actually proceeds. This is especially true for couples who have unique or particularly valuable assets, as accounting for, appraising, and ultimately dividing these assets can take a significant amount of time. To learn more about how an experienced high asset divorce attorney can help you plan for your own pending divorce, please contact our legal team today.

Planning for Alimony

As a result of changes made to the tax code last year, divorced spouses who pay alimony are no longer permitted to deduct those payments come tax season, while spouses who receive these payments can no longer count those payments as income. Knowing how, and planning for, these changes will affect a couple’s own financial situation after divorce is important to the success of the negotiation process. For instance, divorcing couples who properly plan before litigating a divorce could redistribute their assets in such a way that they are able to regain some of what they will lose as a result of the new alimony legislation. The spouse, for example, who is the higher earner could retain the couple’s taxable assets, such as cash, stocks, and bonds, while the lesser earning spouse could retain the tax-deferred accounts like 401(ks) and IRAs.

Accounting for and Appraising Assets

Couples who own extensive, unique or especially valuable assets usually have a more difficult time accounting for, characterizing, and appraising all of those assets. Beginning this process ahead of time can help couples avoid some of the stress that goes along with dividing up a marital estate. Hiring a forensic accountant and other financial specialists can also play a crucial role in ensuring that no assets are improperly appraised or are unaccounted for during the property division process. Compiling documentation related to ownership and value can also be accomplished in the planning stage, which can save time later on in the proceedings.

One of the factors that sets high asset divorces apart from many other divorces is the practice of hiding assets. Fortunately, there are steps that divorcing parties can take to discover and report attempts by their spouses to hide assets. However, taking these steps usually requires the assistance of professionals, including a forensic accountant and a high asset divorce attorney, both of whom can help track down assets and thereby ensure that any settlement agreements entered into by the parties account for all of the couple’s property.

Utilizing the Discovery Process

Couples who litigate their divorces are required to provide each other with copies of important documentation and to submit to questioning. By requesting the production of documents and issuing interrogatories, a high asset divorce lawyer can help get to the bottom of a couple’s financial situation, as parties who refuse to produce documentation as ordered, or who lie while under oath, face strict penalties.

Following Paper Trails

Divorcing spouses attempt to hide assets in a number of different ways, including:

All divorces are complex and potentially emotional. Dissolving the marriage of a couple with unique or significant assets, however, tends to be especially difficult, as it often comes with a host of unique legal challenges, so if you are thinking about filing for divorce in Texas, it is important to speak with an experienced high asset divorce lawyer who can advise you.

What Is a High Asset Divorce?

Narrowing down what qualifies as a high asset divorce can be difficult, but the following are all good indicators that a divorce will involve considerable assets and come with unique challenges:

• Both parties earn a significant income.
• The parties own multiple real estate properties, which could include vacation homes, undeveloped real estate, and rental properties, in addition to the family home.
• The parties own a number of vehicles, including motorcycles, boats, and vintage cars.
• One or both parties own business interests.
• The parties have a diverse investment portfolio.
• The couple has significant savings, retirement benefits, or life insurance policies.
• The parties own collectible items, such as jewelry, artwork, and memorabilia.

Couples who own some or all of these types of properties should have a thorough understanding of Texas’ community property laws, which require divorcing couples to divide their assets in an equitable and fair manner. While this could mean that a couple’s marital assets are divided down the middle, it could also result in one party being granted a greater portion of certain properties. Ultimately, what is considered fair and equitable will depend upon the parties’ unique circumstances.

Divorce can place financial strain on even the most conscientious and budget-minded person, but is especially common when the couple in question has unique, diverse, or especially valuable assets that are difficult to divide. There are, however, things that couples can do to help them financially prepare for a divorce, while also maintaining their current standard of living. To learn more about the financial consequences of divorce, whether you or your spouse could be eligible for alimony, or how your assets will be divided upon the dissolution of your marriage, please contact one of our dedicated high asset divorce attorneys for advice.

Reviewing Your Financial Needs

When a couple decides to divorce and a court holds a hearing on the issue of temporary spousal support, the judge will require the parties to disclose not only their assets and debts, but also their expenses. When assessing the latter to determine whether to award post-divorce maintenance, courts will assess which of each party’s expenses are reasonable and necessary. This includes the cost of everything from food, clothing, and vehicle expenses to utilities, legal fees, rent, and even entertainment. Having evidence of these expenses from the outset of the case can help the entire property division process go much more smoothly, while also clarifying each party’s specific financial needs going forward.

Cutting Extra Costs

Although it can be difficult to cut items from a budget that one is accustomed to, doing so is often a crucial step in helping divorcing spouses learn to live within their new incomes. In most cases, divorce will have some sort of impact on a divorcing couple’s standard of living, at least in the short term and while courts attempt to mitigate this by equitably dividing the divorcing parties’ property, divorce still almost always comes with a financial effect. Operating within a restructured budget can be instrumental in helping people adapt to their new financial situations, while helping ensure that their standard of living does not drastically change.