Columbia, MD High Asset Divorce Lawyer

Knowledgeable High Asset Divorce Attorney for Clients in Columbia, Maryland

If you and your spouse have a significant amount of wealth and property tied to your marriage, dividing your shared assets can be an intimidating endeavor. Worse, if disagreements arise over how those assets should be allocated, you could be looking at a long, expensive contested divorce. To make sure that your interests are protected in your high asset divorce, consider seeking legal representation from a Columbia, MD high asset divorce attorney.

At DM Family Law, we believe in the value of meticulous preparation for every divorce case, especially in high net worth divorces with vast and complex marital estates. With over 20 years of experience, Attorney David Marquardt will provide you with individualized legal advice and strong representation to suit your needs.

Why Are High Asset Divorces So Difficult?

High net worth divorces often present a unique challenge due to the complexity of the assets involved. Unless it was specifically excluded by a marital agreement or given to one party as a gift, any asset you acquired during the marriage could be considered marital property, meaning that it is subject to division in a divorce.

Your marital estate might include multiple real estate properties, a family business, stock portfolios, and other extremely valuable properties. When dividing up these properties in court, the judge will consider what is most fair to both you and your spouse, which does not always entail a 50/50 split. Alternatively, you and your spouse could agree to a property division settlement outside of court, which gives you more control over how the assets will be divided.

Whether you decide to negotiate for property or proceed with litigation, it is important that you know how much property you have to work with. At DM Family Law, we can help you account for all of the assets in your divorce.

Alimony in High Net Worth Divorces

In Maryland, you can petition for alimony in your divorce based on financial need. If there is a significant disparity in your income and your spouse's income, a judge could consider awarding you with alimony. That being said, there are many other factors that could impact whether or not you are given alimony, such as your employability, age, health, contributions to the marriage, and more.

The judge has the discretion to decide how long alimony lasts. For example, alimony may be ordered to continue until the receiving spouse becomes financially independent with the right training or education. In rare cases, the judge can award a spouse with indefinite alimony, whether due to limited employability or another exceptional circumstance.

How Are Marital Agreements Used in High Asset Divorces?

As previously mentioned, some couples use prenuptial or postnuptial agreements to safeguard their separate property in a divorce. This can be especially valuable in a high asset divorce if you do not want to risk your separate property becoming commingled, such as a business or a retirement account. A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can also set the terms for alimony, allowing you to decide how much will be paid in support and for how long.

In some high asset divorces, disputes may arise about the marital agreement. For instance, one spouse may allege that the agreement was signed under duress or that the document itself is fraudulent. At DM Family Law, we can advocate for you in debates about the enforceability of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.

Meet With a Columbia, Maryland High Asset Divorce Attorney

High net worth divorces should be handled with careful attention. At DM Family Law, we have the legal knowledge and experience to protect your best interests throughout your case. To schedule a free consultation with our Columbia, MD high asset divorce lawyer, call our firm at 443-545-8100 or contact our Columbia high asset divorce lawyer.