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Brighton High-Asset Divorce Attorneys

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Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC
Home | Michigan Family Law Firm | Brighton High-Asset Divorce Attorneys

Divorces involving couples who own considerable assets are not like other divorces. There is more at stake, and more complex issues must be resolved before the divorce can be finalized. Don’t make the mistake of trusting your high–net worth divorce to just any attorney. Instead, contact Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC for an initial case evaluation with a high-asset divorce lawyer serving Brighton. We look forward to meeting you, learning more about your situation, and guiding you through your divorce while protecting your rights and interests.

Why Choose a Divorce Attorney from Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC?

High-asset divorces in Brighton often involve challenging issues and disputes that are best resolved by an attorney who has considerable experience handling similar cases. Turn to the legal team at Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC to advocate for your interests during your high-asset divorce in Brighton because:

  • Our lawyers work diligently to secure the best possible outcome for you, even when you face complex obstacles in your case. We have earned a reputation for providing skilled legal advocacy in challenging divorce cases. Our firm bills clients reasonably so that they have the financial resources to protect their rights and interests.
  • Our all-female law firm takes a flexible approach that enables us to work with clients from any background.
  • Our partners, Laura Eisenberg and Amy Spilman, are members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The members of this organization dedicate themselves to furthering their knowledge of family law and developing the skills and insights to provide top-quality advocacy for clients facing challenging issues in domestic relations cases.
  • We strive to provide you peace of mind that comes from knowing that we will do everything possible to pursue your interests and goals. Our experience serving as mediators enables us to take a collaborative approach to resolving disputes in your case as efficiently as possible while protecting your interests.

What Makes a Divorce “High Asset”?

A “high-asset” divorce is one involving a couple whose assets are valued in the seven figures or at least one spouse whose annual income approaches seven figures or more. One of the primary characteristics of high-asset divorces is a couple’s ownership of complex assets, such as:

  • Business ownership interests
  • Investments in startups and emerging companies
  • Substantial securities portfolios
  • Real estate portfolios that may include multiple residences or investment properties, like commercial real estate or income-generating multi-unit residential buildings
  • Retirement accounts
  • Executive compensation packages that include stock options, restricted stock units, or deferred compensation
  • Individual and family living trusts
  • Family inheritance
  • Assets in offshore accounts
  • High-value artwork, jewelry, or collectibles

The unique circumstances of a high-asset divorce mean spouses should seek legal counsel with significant experience resolving the challenges and complex issues that can arise in such divorces.

Key Issues in High-Asset Divorce Cases

High-asset divorces involve certain key issues that must be resolved, some of which are common to all divorces, and some of which are specific to these more complex cases. Here are some of the most common aspects of high-asset divorces in Brighton:
  • Property division: A high-asset divorce may involve property division, where the couple or the court must determine how to split the couple’s marital property. Property division in a high-asset divorce can involve aspects not found in other couples’ divorce cases, including the need for expert appraisals of high-value or complex assets. Given the substantial wealth in the marital estate, couples in high-asset divorces may also spend considerable time and resources litigating the division of marital assets.
  • Spousal support/alimony: High-asset divorce cases can also involve claims for spousal support/alimony, especially when spouses have a substantial disparity in their earning capacity or when one spouse spent most of the marriage outside the workforce to support the other spouse as a homemaker. Spousal support can help spouses with lower earning capacities support themselves as they gain the education, training, or work experience needed to become more self-sufficient.
  • Business ownership interests: Many spouses in high-asset divorces own business interests, which can raise unique challenges. These include appraising the business’s value and navigating contractual restrictions on transferring ownership interests, which may require alternative solutions for dividing the value of a spouse’s business ownership interest.
  • Hidden or undisclosed assets: Some high-asset divorce cases involve spouses who hide or intentionally fail to disclose the existence of marital or separate assets. A spouse may conceal assets to avoid dividing them with their spouse or gain a more advantageous position in property division, spousal support, or child support. Suspected hidden or undisclosed assets will require the other spouse to retain forensic accountants who can identify and track down assets concealed in separate bank accounts, offshore trusts, or fraudulent transactions.
  • Pre/postnuptial agreements: Many high-net-worth couples create prenuptial or postnuptial agreements to resolve economic issues in case of a divorce. Although these agreements can simplify asset divorce cases by facilitating a quick resolution of property division or alimony, they can also lead to extensive litigation when one party challenges the enforceability of an agreement by claiming inadequate financial disclosures, lack of independent counsel, or duress/coercion.
  • Tax consequences: Couples in high-asset divorces should consider the tax implications of a proposed resolution to the financial issues in their divorce. For example, transferring or selling assets as part of a property division could trigger capital gains tax or other tax liabilities. Dividing the marital estate may also upset spouses’ carefully arranged financial planning and tax strategies, requiring spouses to seek knowledgeable counsel to understand the tax consequences of their divorce.

How Can a High-Asset Divorce Attorney Help You?

A high-asset divorce attorney serving Brighton can help you protect your financial interests by pursuing a fair and favorable resolution to your case by:

  • Meeting with you to discuss your concerns, needs, and goals to tailor our approach to your case
  • Thoroughly reviewing financial records and other documents to understand the extent of your and your spouse’s assets and evaluate strategies we might pursue in your case
  • Explaining your rights to you and walking you through your legal options to help you make informed decisions
  • Negotiating on your behalf to resolve economic issues in your divorce as efficiently as possible through a divorce/property settlement
  • Advocating for you in court if necessary to protect your financial interests and rights

Mistakes to Avoid in a High-Asset Divorce

Those going through high-asset divorces sometimes make critical mistakes that haunt them for years to come. Some of the most common mistakes to avoid are as follows:

  • Failing to identify or disclose all assets
  • Obtaining inaccurate valuations of assets such as business ownership interests or high-value real estate
  • Failing to consider the tax implications of proposed property division or spousal support orders
  • Not updating estate plans or beneficiary designations to remove ex-spouses or reflect the division of marital property
  • Overlooking the effect of property division on business continuity or ownership, especially when both spouses owned and worked on the business during their marriage
  • Agreeing to a divorce settlement without consulting an attorney experienced in high-asset divorces

Contact Our Firm Today to Learn More About Your Rights

If you or your spouse owns substantial assets, a knowledgeable divorce lawyer from Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC, can help you navigate the challenges and complexities these assets present. Contact our firm today for a confidential consultation with a high-asset divorce attorney serving Brighton, and let’s discuss your path forward together.

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