Marietta High Asset Divorce Attorneys

For divorcing parties of significant means, property division can become very complex. When settlement fails, you must have Marietta high asset divorce lawyers who are prepared to litigate high-asset issues in court.

Your complex asset and property distribution should be done right the first time and in a way that preserves and protects your investment in your marriage. At Hill Macdonald, LLC, we work hard to obtain the most favorable outcome possible. Our skilled legal team possesses more than 25 years of combined family law experience and backgrounds in business, accounting and finance.

Accurately Identify And Divide Assets – Even Hidden Assets

Couples need to identify assets as marital or premarital property, value them accurately and negotiate the division of assets. In some cases, one spouse may attempt to conceal or wrongly classify assets. Having a skilled and zealous divorce attorney who also has relevant finance experience is critical to the high-asset divorce process. We work hard to first prove assets and then uncover any hidden ones. Frequently, we work closely with certified public accountants and forensic accounting experts who can trace and uncover hidden assets.

High Asset Divorce Attorneys Who Have A Team Of Experts

When a closely held family business is part of a high-asset divorce, property division often becomes even more complicated. Business valuations are not cut-and-dried, since determining a business’s net worth requires the assistance of specially trained accountants and financial experts. We have access to these experts and work effectively with them.

Our clients are very much a part of this process because the outcome will impact their lives for years to come. We know what documents to ask for, including bank statements, deeds, declarations of net worth, corporate financial statements, tax returns and investment records. You should be able to go about your life and work with complete assurance that our team can handle your legal affairs capably.

Maintaining Utmost Discretion

When possible, we keep high-asset divorce settlements low-profile and out of the public eye out of respect for your privacy. Our divorce lawyers not only have experience in these matters but also represent clients aggressively and creatively to provide working solutions. Our cases have involved respected politicians, professionals and athletes.

Do You Have Questions For Us?

Going through a divorce means you likely have a variety of questions that need answering. Our knowledgeable and caring attorneys can provide the information you need. You can take a look at the answers that we have provided to some of our clients’ most frequently asked questions.

How do Marietta courts divide marital assets?

Georgia is an equitable property state. This means that the court will divide marital assets and property fairly, but not necessarily 50-50. The decision relies on many factors, including the length of the marriage, each partner’s contribution to the marital assets and each partner’s separate assets.

What are the exceptions to marital property?

Generally, marital property encompasses all assets acquired after the marriage. However, there are a few assets that remain separate:

• Inheritances
• Gifts from parties other than your spouse
• Any assets that both spouses agree are separate property

Determining marital assets versus separate assets is often hotly contested and may require a lawyer.

What are my options for divorce methods?

You can consider the following options for handling your divorce:

1. Private negotiation: You and your spouse privately reach an agreement on major issues.
2. Mediation: You and your spouse sit down with a neutral mediator who helps you reach an agreement.
3. Litigation: You and your spouse appear before a judge who issues a divorce order.

The first two methods grant you more control. If they do not work, you may need to consider litigation.

How do prenuptial agreements affect high-asset divorces?

A prenuptial agreement is a document that is drafted before marriage to help facilitate a possible divorce. Premarital agreements can drastically simplify a high-asset divorce by defining each party’s separate property, establishing ownership interests in businesses and determining how real estate or other major assets will be valued and divided. A prenup can also be used to decide how debts are divided and protect parties from potential liability issues.

What are the considerations for dividing luxury items (e.g., art, jewelry)?

Many high-asset estates include luxury assets, such as art and jewelry. In a divorce, parties have to make a few considerations when dividing luxury items. First, parties may need to consider whether these assets are part of the marital estate or if they were gifts or inherited assets, which may exclude them from the property division. Second, any luxury items that are part of the marital estate may need to be accurately valued. Third, parties may need to consider the tax implications of selling any luxury items. Lastly, parties may need to consider the ongoing costs of owning luxury items after a divorce, such as maintenance and insurance.

How is alimony determined in high-asset divorces?

Several issues may need to be evaluated before alimony is decided in a high-asset divorce. Some of these factors include:

• The length of the marriage
• The size of the marital estate
• Contributions from each spouse to the marriage
• Each spouse’s earning capacity and separate assets
• Child custody issues which may affect one spouse’s ability to work

A high-asset divorce attorney can represent clients in court to protect their interests and achieve fair spousal support.

What happens to shared debts in a divorce?

Like other parts of the marital estate in a high-asset divorce, debts are divided equitably between spouses under Georgia’s equitable distribution laws – which means they may or may not be divided evenly.