If you have a high-profile career and are seeking to divorce, you will want to find an experienced family lawyer who can protect your interests. These cases can be highly complicated, and your attorney must have the knowledge and expertise to effectively represent your case.
Unlike most divorces, a high-asset and high profile case may involve business properties, international investments, and a lot of other assets. These complexities can make a high-asset divorce much more difficult and time-consuming to resolve than a standard divorce.
The most common issue in high-asset and high profile divorces involves identifying and valuing the assets. This requires a deep understanding of legal and financial principles. It also means working closely with experts to determine how these assets should be valued so that they are properly distributed between the parties in a fair and equitable manner.
Hidden Assets
Sometimes, your spouse will try to hide their assets so that they will not have to be split up as part of your divorce settlement. Your family law attorney must be able to find these hidden assets and ensure that they are properly disclosed to the court. This can take a thorough investigation and can sometimes require the assistance of forensic accountants.
Spousal Support and Child Custody
High-earners often try to minimize the amount of alimony that they have to pay by using creative accounting methods to avoid paying as much. A reputable high net worth divorce attorney will be able to help you get a clear picture of your higher-earner’s income and determine if they are actually eligible for support payments.
In addition to calculating alimony, your family law lawyer will be able to help you figure out child custody and visitation issues. These are also important considerations in a high-asset divorce, and a skilled attorney will help you work with the other parent to ensure that your children’s best interests are protected.
Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreements
If you have a large asset portfolio, it is likely that both you and your spouse will want to enter into a prenuptial agreement. These agreements are written contracts that detail how to handle certain assets, property, and financial obligations after a divorce. They are typically considered valid by the court and can help you and your spouse avoid costly litigation over how to divide assets.
A good high-asset and high-profile divorce attorney will be able to help you understand your rights in these situations and assist you in drafting a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that is fair and beneficial for you. They will also be able to advise you on other matters that are specific to your case, such as the division of your business and other important issues.
Personal Liabilities
If one of you has a very large amount of personal debt, it is likely that your divorce will involve dividing those assets as well. These assets may include a home, cars, and other valuables. If you are a high-earner, it is also important to consider how the division of your assets will impact your debt.