Chesapeake High-Asset Divorce Lawyer

Divorce can present unique challenges for couples with substantial assets. Protecting your wealth and pursuing a fair distribution of property requires an understanding of how courts handle complex property division. A high-asset divorce lawyer could explain how the law may affect your property interests at each stage.

A Chesapeake high-asset divorce lawyer at Capital Family & Divorce Law Group could help you understand the issues you may face and give you greater confidence in protecting your property interests.

What Issues Are Common in High-Asset Divorce Cases?

State law requires an equitable distribution of property between divorcing spouses. The court may also need to resolve issues involving children born during the marriage. An attorney handling a high-asset divorce in Chesapeake could address property division under the state’s equitable distribution model in Code of Virginia § 20-107.3. Several common issues in these cases include:

Property Division

A high-asset divorce case may involve the division of:

• Business ownership
• Stock options
• Investment accounts
• Trust accounts
• Inherited property
• Vehicles
• Boats
• Collectibles

A forensic accountant may need to identify and value all assets involved in the case. Disputes may also arise over whether property is marital,non-marital, or hybrid.

Spousal Support

In many high-asset cases, one spouse may have greater earning potential than the other. In these situations, the lower-earning spouse may qualify for spousal support to maintain a certain standard of living after the divorce becomes final. Whether the court orders a spouse to pay or receive spousal support, the court should fairly address that spouse’s financial interests.

Child Custody and Visitation

High-asset couples with children may have complex schedules because of work and other obligations. Standard 50-50 child custody arrangements may not always work in these situations, and the court may need to issue an order that accommodates each parent’s schedule. Travel obligations and the distance between homes can also affect visitation schedules. Custody orders in high-asset cases may also need to address schooling and other requirements related to a child’s education.

Child Support

In most cases, courts calculate child support under state guidelines after reviewing each party’s income and financial resources. In a high-asset divorce, the court may consider adjusting  child support to address education costs, vacations, summer activities, extracurricular activities, and the standard of living the child previously enjoyed.

Concealment of Assets and Real Estate Issues

Asset concealment may also arise in high-asset divorce cases. To achieve equitable distribution of property, both spouses must provide complete financial information. Some spouses, however, may conceal or transfer assets through secret accounts, cryptocurrency holdings, business enterprises, or other methods. In a Chesapeake high-net-worth divorce, an attorney could use forensic accounting and other investigative methods to try and examine all financial assets and liabilities.

High-net-worth divorce cases often involve multiple properties. In addition to the marital home, these may include:

• Vacation properties
• Beach homes
• Cottages, cabins, and lake homes
• Business properties
• Timeshares

Even properties that were once non-marital may become part-marital property depending on how the spouses used them. Whether a spouse seeks to keep a property separate or argues that it should be marital, an attorney could investigate the issue and provide guidance.

Contact Us To Discuss Your High-Asset Divorce With a Chesapeake Lawyer

To avoid unwelcome surprises in your high-net-worth divorce case, a Chesapeake high-asset divorce lawyer at Capital Family & Divorce Law Group could carefully investigate your financial details and seek accounting assistance when needed. Contact us today to learn more.