What Should You Look for in a High-Net-Worth Divorce Attorney in California?

The division of marital property is often a hotly contested issue in divorce. When there is a high-net-worth involved, it can become even more contentious and challenging. Not only are there usually assets that must be valued and addressed, but there is also considerably more opportunities for complications to arise. If you are facing divorce and have significant assets, you need the right Orange County high-net-worth divorce attorney on your side.

The Division of Marital Property in California

California is a community property state. This means that everything that you, your spouse, or the two of you together came to own during your marriage belongs to each of you equally and must be divided between you equally upon divorce. Any assets that either of you owned prior to marriage are that spouse’s separate property, but there are a range of factors that can erode the distinction between separate and marital assets. And some assets end up being both marital and separate in nature.

In a high-asset divorce, there are more opportunities for complexities that relate to each asset’s characterization and assigned value to become problematic. Such concerns are generally resolved by following the path each asset traveled on the way to its current position, which can require a considerable amount of focused effort.

Here are some of the things to look for when looking for an attorney to represent you in your high-net-worth divorce:

A Divorce Attorney with Specific Experience in High-Net-Worth Cases

High-net-worth divorces come with their own brand of issues, which makes finding a high-net-worth divorce lawyer who is a good fit for your unique case and legal needs critical. A key element of this is having proven experience successfully handling cases that are similar to yours in regard to the challenges involved.

For example, if you and your spouse own a family business, look for a lawyer who has successfully handled a divorce involving a family business in the past. A good way to establish that this applies to the lawyer you’re considering is by checking out the firm’s website for reviews, testimonials, and prior case results.

A High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyer Who Makes You Feel Heard

Every divorce is different, which means you need a high-asset divorce attorney who pays careful attention to the details of your case, listens attentively to you and your concerns, and makes you feel heard.

The most effective lawyers have excellent communication skills, which include the ability to hear what their clients are trying to express. When you find a high-net-worth divorce attorney who checks this box – along with the others discussed – you’ll know you’re in good legal hands.

A High-Net-Worth Divorce Attorney Who Has Time for Your Case

Finding a divorce lawyer whom you consider perfect for your case isn’t going to do you much good if they don’t have the time or drive necessary to get the job done right. When you interview a prospective high-net-worth divorce attorney for your case, don’t neglect to ask if you will be working primarily with them moving forward. If your case is handed to an associate as soon as you sign on, you may not receive the focused legal attention you bargained for.

A High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyer Who Is Invested in Your Financial Rights

In a high-net-worth divorce, there is a lot more at stake financially, which means you need a dedicated divorce attorney who is invested in your financial rights and who will leave no stone unturned in their focused efforts to protect those rights. For example, the fact that your divorce involves high assets means that spousal support – or alimony – is more likely to play a role, which is significant whether you are the potential recipient or the spouse who may be required to pay. Either way, spousal support is an important consideration that is worthy of careful legal analysis.

Complications Inherent to High-Net-Worth Divorce

Even the most straightforward divorce in which both spouses are in complete agreement on every issue comes with complications. When there are high assets involved, however, the potential that property division will lead to serious issues increases considerably for all the following reasons:

• The marital assets are likely to be more diverse, which makes them more complicated.
• Valuations are often required, and landing on values that both spouses are willing to sign off on can add an additional layer of difficulty.
• When there are questions about which assets are separate, which are marital, and which are some combination of the two, things become even more complex.
• Spousal support, which is a challenging matter in its own right, is more likely to play a role in a high-net-worth divorce.
• The higher the assets, the more room there is for financial wrongdoing, which means that forensic accounting is often required.
• High-net-worth divorces are also more likely to garner the public’s attention, which makes taking privacy into careful consideration a must.
• When high assets are involved, the divorce case is likely to take longer and be more costly to resolve. This is in addition to generally being more contentious.

These factors emphasize the importance of working closely with a seasoned high-net-worth divorce lawyer from the start.

Reach Out to an Experienced Orange County High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyer for the Help You’re Looking For

The accomplished high-net-worth divorce attorneys at Minyard Morris – proudly serving Orange County, California – are committed to fiercely protecting your financial rights throughout the challenging divorce process ahead. The more assets involved in your divorce, the greater the risk that you’ll lose sight of what you’re entitled to, which we are determined and well-equipped to help you avoid. Because the division of your marital property will play an important role in your financial future, we encourage you to reach out and contact us online or call us at 949-724-1111 for more information about what we can do to help you today.