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Issues You May Encounter in a High Net Worth Divorce
When most couples get married, they are thinking about the personal and romantic significance of their commitment. They are much less concerned with the financial implications of marriage. However, when spouses enter into a marriage, they merge many of their assets and debts. Undoing this financial entanglement during divorce becomes especially complicated if spouses have a high income or own high-value assets. If you or your spouse have greater than average wealth, you should know about the ways that your wealth may influence your divorce case.
Complex Assets and Hard-To-Value Property
The division of marital property is often one of the most challenging aspects of divorce. Complex assets, hard-to-value assets, and assets with fluctuating value are often especially difficult to account for during divorce. Special attention must be paid to assets such as:
- Businesses and business investments
- Stocks and stock options
- Securities and investment accounts
- Deferred compensation and bonuses
- Overseas investments and tax shelters
- Real estate and investment properties
- Retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, and pensions
- Bitcoin and other digital currency
Child Support Deviations
Typically, child support payments are determined by statutory formulas established by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The parents’ net incomes are added together to find their combined net income and then this information is compared to an “income shares schedule” to find their basic support obligation. The basic support obligation is the amount of money that both parents are expected to contribute to their child’s upbringing. The basic support obligation is divided between the parents based on their respective net incomes. The parent with less parenting time makes his or her contribution in the form of child support.
The tables and formulas used to calculate a parent’s child support obligation are based on statistics and averages. If your financial situation is not typical of the average Illinois family, calculating child support using the statutory formulas may be inappropriate. Instead, the court may deviate from the typical method of determining child support and instead make a determination based on your unique circumstances.
Hidden Assets and Financial Fraud
Financial transparency is a crucial element in any divorce case but it is especially vital in high-income divorce cases. Some spouses may attempt to manipulate their divorce settlement by hiding assets, undervaluing assets, transferring funds, or falsifying financial information. They may use businesses to conceal assets or even intentionally overpay the IRS to create the illusion of a lower net worth. If you suspect that your spouse will lie about finances during divorce, speak to a divorce lawyer right away. A skilled attorney with experience handling complex divorce cases can help you uncover hidden assets and get the divorce settlement you deserve.
Contact a St. Charles High Asset Divorce Lawyer
If you or your spouse have a high income or own expensive assets, you need a divorce attorney who has experience successfully handling high asset divorce cases. Contact a skilled Kane County divorce lawyer from Shaw Sanders, P.C. Call us at 630-584-5550 to schedule a free, personalized consultation.
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/russalanprince/2014/06/09/three-of-the-biggest-mistakes-the-wealthy-make-when-divorcing/
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