Complex Property Division

Identifying, characterizing, and valuing property can be one of the most complicated and highly charged aspects of a divorce.

Identification and characterization of property is especially prevalent in complex divorces, where the parties have varied assets, assets acquired prior to marriage, assets located overseas or divorces where at least one spouse has a high net worth or owns several businesses or real estate properties. Although every divorce is unique, there are sources of conflict common to many complex divorce cases, including:

  • Interpretation of Premarital Agreements
  • Valuation and division of businesses and professional practices
  • Valuation and division of real estate
  • Overseas investments and assets, joint ventures, partnerships, and other business interests
  • Stock portfolios, securities and other investment accounts
  • Patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, such as royalty income
  • Trusts with complicated tax implications related to asset transfers
  • Self-employment and independent contractor income
  • Unique personal assets, such as jewelry, collections of artwork , wine or cars
  • Tracing of co-mingled assets and investments such as premarital assets and inheritances
  • Employee benefits (stock options, RSUs, PSUs, deferred compensation, etc.)
  • Pensions, IRAs, 401K retirement plans
  • Hidden assets

A divorce that includes complex property division requires professionals that have a strong background and experience in this area. In addition to our expertise in complex property division, we have established relationships with other professionals such as tax attorneys, certified divorce financial analysts, CPA’s, financial planners, forensic accountants and appraisers. Even when complex property issues are present, many of them can be settled through Mediation, Collaborative or Negotiation.  Court intervention is often not necessary or required.

Complex Property Division
Portrait of Senior man caucasian smiling and looking at camera, outside in park.