A Bellevue high asset divorce lawyer at Twyford Law Office could help you navigate the legal process and protect your best interests.
Nobody enters into a marriage with the expectation that they will end up divorced. However, when things do not end up working out, sometimes the best option is to divorce. The legal process involved in seeking a divorce can seem daunting, particularly when one or both of the spouses have a high net worth, which is why it is critical to work with an experienced divorce attorney who knows how to get great results.
Under Washington state law, a couple’s properties can be separate or community. Separate properties are properties that a spouse acquired prior to their marriage, such as savings from their salary until the date of the marriage or a car or house they bought before the marriage. Community property would be any property acquired after the marriage. For instance, if a couple buys a home together after the marriage, the house would become community property. Similarly, the salaries of each spouse during the marriage would also become community property.
Community and separate property can be confusing when the properties somehow commingle, such as when one spouse puts their separate savings account from before the marriage into a joint savings account with their spouse.
In Washington, courts try to split the value of a couple’s community property as equally as possible upon divorce. A knowledgeable Bellevue high asset divorce attorney could explain how community property laws could affect a particular case.
While any divorce can be emotionally challenging, the proceedings can be considerably more complicated when people have a high net worth. High-value assets can substantially affect a divorce proceeding. Examples include:
When one or both spouses owns and manages a business, the business can become part of the marital community property.
When one or both spouses has an interest in a professional practice, such as a medical or law office, that professional practice can have a high value.
Luxury goods with high value, such as expensive cars, jewelry, yachts, and planes, can become community property.
Some people own property or investment interests in other states or overseas. These assets could have different tax and debt distribution implications.
People with a high net worth often own other properties for vacation, investment, or rental properties.
When one spouse has a high income, spousal maintenance and alimony can become contentious issues.
Our seasoned legal professionals at Twyford Law Office could use their experience to get a full picture of all the assets and debts of a divorcing couple. Our firm has strong working relationships with forensic accountants, tax professionals, and financial planners who could help determine the true value of all of the assets in the couple’s community property. Our skilled high asset divorce lawyers could also work with private investigators and other professionals in Bellevue to uncover any assets that one spouse might be trying to hide from the other.
Anytime a marriage has significant assets, a divorce proceeding can become more complex. You need to ensure that you have a strong legal professional by your side who can look out for your unique interests.
Call a Bellevue high asset divorce lawyer at our firm today and let us help you fight for a fair divorce settlement.