Fulton Divorce Attorneys

Lawyers for Complex and High Asset Divorce Cases in Fulton, MD

Getting a divorce will involve multiple types of complex issues that a couple will need to address, including decisions about child custody. However, for couples who have a high net worth, the process of separating their lives can become even more complicated as they evaluate different types of assets, determine what tax consequences may affect them, and put measures in place to ensure that they will be able to meet their ongoing needs.

Effective legal guidance can be important for anyone going through a divorce, but it can be especially essential in cases involving complex financial factors. At Silverman Thompson, our attorneys have extensive experience assisting with high asset divorce cases. We can not only address the legal issues that our clients may encounter, but we can also make sure financial matters will be handled correctly. Our goal is to protect our clients' financial interests and help them achieve outcomes that will provide them with security going forward.

Financial Concerns in a High Asset Divorce

When a couple has a high net worth, their marital estates may include assets that are not always easy to evaluate or divide. Investment portfolios may include stocks, bonds, and other complex financial instruments, and dividing these assets between spouses could trigger capital gains taxes. Complex compensation packages and executive benefits may also make it difficult to determine the value of a couple's assets and how they may be divided. Our lawyers can help clients address concerns related to deferred compensation arrangements, unvested stock options, and restricted stock units.

We can also help clients determine how to handle retirement accounts and pensions. While assets like 401(k) accounts and IRAs may be divided between spouses, the proper steps will need to be taken to avoid early withdrawal penalties and prevent a person from being required to pay taxes. We will make sure Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) or transfers incident to divorce are used in these cases. When addressing pensions, we can help clients take the right steps to ensure that these benefits will be divided correctly once they begin being paid.

Real Estate Property

A couple with a high net worth may have multiple types of real estate holdings. In addition to their primary home, they may own vacation homes, guest homes, or secondary residences. They may also own investment properties, including residential properties rented to tenants, commercial real estate, or undeveloped land that may be used in a real estate development project.

Appraisals will need to be performed for each property, ensuring that a couple understands its value, the amount that may be received if it is sold, and any income being generated. For a couple's primary home, a couple may choose to sell the property, or one spouse may assume sole ownership. Other properties may be divided in a similar fashion, and in some cases, couples may choose to continue co-owning certain properties. Our lawyers can provide guidance on the available options, make sure clients understand the tax consequences of their decisions, and advocate for solutions that will meet our clients' financial needs..

Business Valuations

When a spouse owns an interest in a business, such as a family-owned business, a partnership, or a stake in another type of company, they may want to take steps to ensure that they will be able to continue owning and operating the business. An important step to take when addressing business assets during divorce will be to perform a business valuation.

Professionals who assist with the business valuation process may take different approaches depending on the type of business. They may look at the income earned by a business and its capacity to generate profits in the future. They may look at the value of a business's assets and debts. A market comparison may be made, looking at sales of similar businesses to estimate the amount that a business could be sold for.

Our attorneys work with financial professionals to evaluate businesses owned by our clients and their spouses. We can help establish the current and future value of a business, and we can help clients negotiate agreements that will allow business assets to be divided successfully. Depending on the situation, we may help our clients take steps to sell a business, negotiate a buyout, or establish a partnership agreement that will allow spouses to work together on an ongoing basis as co-owners of a business.

The Role of Alimony

Spousal support is not awarded in every divorce, but it may play an important role in certain cases. The purpose of alimony is to ensure that both spouses will be able to continue living at the standard they came to expect during their marriage. In cases where one spouse has earned the majority of the family's income or where one spouse will be at a financial disadvantage due to limited work experience, alimony can ensure that the lower-earning spouse will have ongoing support.

Our attorneys can help clients address issues related to alimony, including advocating for alimony payments for a client who needs financial support or working with a client to respond to a spousal support request. We will work to ensure that the solutions put in place will protect our client's financial interests and ensure that they can meet their ongoing needs after finalizing their divorce.

Settlement Negotiations and Divorce Litigation

Most of the time, a divorce may be resolved by negotiating a marital settlement agreement. By agreeing on a settlement, the spouses will have control over the outcome of their case, and they may be able to come up with creative solutions to complex issues. Effective negotiation will require a full understanding of the legal and financial issues in a case and a willingness to compromise when necessary.

Our attorneys can advise clients on whether the proposed terms in a settlement are fair or may lead to complications or disputes in the future. We will work to find solutions that will minimize risk and provide for our clients' needs. For clients who choose to use mediation, we can provide representation during this process, guiding them through discussions and helping them reach workable agreements.

When necessary, our attorneys are fully prepared to litigate cases in court. In a contested divorce case, a trial may be held before a judge. With our experience representing clients in trials, we can make sure a case is fully prepared, and we will advocate for an outcome that will protect our client's interests.

Contact Our Fulton, MD Divorce Lawyers

When addressing issues related to divorce, Silverman Thompson can provide the experienced guidance and skilled representation needed to achieve success. Our attorneys can assist with the division of complex marital assets, resolve issues related to spousal support, and help parents put child custody and child support agreements in place. To schedule a consultation, contact our Fulton divorce attorneys at 410-385-2225.