Divorce can be more difficult for couples with complex finances. Identifying and valuing the marital property is time-consuming and can be contentious. A New Haven complex property division lawyer can provide steady guidance through what might be a tumultuous process. The property division attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers have significant experience managing high-net-worth divorces and can help ensure you exit your marriage with a fair portion of the marital property.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-81 outlines the process for property division when couples divorce. It states that both spouses have an interest in all property either spouse owns at the separation date, regardless of when it was acquired or how it is registered and titled.
Property must be divided equitably, which means the division must be fair when considering the particular circumstances of your marriage. The judge may divide the property equally or grant more to one spouse. Many factors influence the property division decision, including:
When evaluating contributions to the marriage, judges consider caretaking, homemaking, and child rearing as well as financial contributions.
Couples often cite the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as the reason for divorce, rather than citing a fault-based ground. If your spouse’s marital misconduct led to the divorce, a Connecticut judge might award you a larger percentage of the marital estate even if you cite the no-fault ground. Discuss this matter with your New Haven attorney when developing your strategy for complex property division.
Wealthy couples tend to hold many different types of assets. These might include:
Many couples use some of their money to collect antiques, art, jewelry, or other luxury items. All this property must be catalogued when the couple divorces. Locating and identifying all the marital property can require substantial time and effort in these cases.
When a spouse files for divorce, a Connecticut judge will issue standing orders requiring the couple to avoid purchasing or transferring property and order them to exchange financial disclosures. Our New Haven attorneys are experienced in completing and verifying financial disclosures in divorces with complex property division issues. When necessary, we can request production of more documents or even conduct depositions to ensure disclosure is accurate and complete.
Once a couple has disclosed all the property they own, they must assign a value to it. You will likely need appraisals on real estate and collections. Ideally, you and your ex-partner will select an appraiser and agree to accept their opinion. However, in many cases, spouses enter negotiations with competing appraisals.
Similarly, the methodology for valuing business interests and future interests can be a matter of dispute. Even choosing the separation date can be the basis for conflict because it impacts the value of the couple’s holdings in foreign currencies and stocks, although a Connecticut judge will likely default to the value on the day of the divorce if the couple cannot agree.
Our complex property division attorneys in New Haven will manage negotiations strategically to help ensure you reach your goals. This will likely involve some compromise, but being flexible on some issues increases the chances of reaching an acceptable outcome efficiently and cost-effectively.
If you and your spouse have substantial assets, contact a New Haven complex property division lawyer for help with your divorce proceedings. At Dolan Divorce Lawyers, we handle every case with the attention to detail it deserves to ensure your rights are protected. We look forward to helping you reach an equitable property settlement. Contact us today to get started.
N/a 
