A high net worth divorce is one where the spouses jointly have more than a million dollars in liquid assets. The assets may include businesses, real estate holdings, retirement accounts, pensions, bonuses, savings, trusts, stocks, and other investments.These may be very difficult to split or dissolve while minimizing tax impacts. With so much at stake, it’s important to find a lawyer you can trust who has experience with high net worth separations and divorces.
Generally, people with a high net worth have complicated portfolios of assets. It takes time to evaluate their financial situation and figure out a strategy for dissolving and dividing assets.
Often the law firm will need to call in a team of experts to help assess both spouses’ business and personal assets and make provisions for children (present and future).
What issues do high-net-worth divorce lawyers assist with?
BC lawyers who deal with high-net-worth divorce cases need to have specialized knowledge and access to specialists.
If you are a party in a high net worth divorce, you need a lawyer who has skill in:
- Minimizing the time and cost of litigation
- Avoiding damage to your reputation as a result of litigation
- Reducing taxes that can result from division of assets or spousal support and optimizing tax advantages for paying child or spousal support
- Engaging accounting experts to evaluate business assets and applying the appropriate methodologies for determining income, depreciation, etc.
- Applying analysis to financial statements that work to your advantage
- Protecting you against paying more than your fair share of spousal support during your lifetime and after your death
- Developing a case as to whether or not retained corporate earnings or working capital should be applied as income to a child or spousal support
An experienced and knowledgeable divorce lawyer who works with high-net-worth clients must understand some very sophisticated financial and tax topics while being sensitive to the present and future needs of their entire family.
At Spectrum Family Law, we have worked with many high-net-worth clients in Vancouver. We have the resources needed to handle the issues that arise in these complex and challenging divorces.
Why are high net-worth divorces more challenging than standard divorces?
People who amass substantial wealth often have investments and business dealings that are complex and different from ordinary income earners.
When one or both divorcing spouses have a high net worth, they must consider how their divorce will impact their assets, businesses, property, relationships, and reputation.
A divorce lawyer for high net worth and high income individuals must carefully consider, evaluate and make recommendations for:
- Existing and future premarital and cohabitation agreements
- Exclusions of certain property, gifts, inheritances acquired before, during or after the marriage
- Establishing spousal support and self-sufficiency objectives
- Remarriage and retirement considerations including inheritance planning to protect child support
- Division of debt and tax obligations including income tax, capital gains tax, RRSPs, corporate taxes, etc.
- Administration and valuation of trusts, retirement funds, stock, options, pensions and executive compensation packages
- Inventory and valuation of all family assets and property before and after separation
- Division and administration of international property
- Special circumstances such as estate freezes, family trusts, corporate rollovers, etc.
While not all of these apply to all high net worth spouses, many are not aware of the complexity of their businesses and investments. It can take substantial investigation by forensic accountants to bring to light all the holdings of each spouse.
A lawyer experienced with high net worth divorces can help you get the correct specialists and put together the right team to ensure the spouses are providing the full, honest disclosure required for divorce in Vancouver, BC.
How are high net worth spouse’s financial needs assessed in BC?
The courts in British Colombia recognize that high-net-worth individuals have become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Based on this, they often award large sums for spousal and child support. The courts may also award a spouse a very generous property division.
The BC courts have broad discretion in assessing what a spouse’s needs may be and what standard of living is needed. In many cases, this has meant that a wealthier spouse may be required to turn over millions or billions to a spouse who is not in as strong an economic position.
If you are a wealthier spouse, your divorce lawyer will review all your assets and may make a recommendation to the court (or mediator/arbitrator) to help you protect your wealth and business while fairly providing for your spouse.
If you are a less wealthy spouse, the right high-net-worth divorce lawyer can make all the difference in how you will fare in the separation agreement. You’ll need the best representation possible to ensure your wealthier, more powerful spouse discloses all assets and treats you fairly.
Your lawyer should know how BC courts handle these cases and keep you apprised of what you can expect when your divorce is final. At Spectrum Family Law, our divorce lawyers are very familiar with navigating these issues.
We gather a team of professionals to ensure full financial disclosure for personal and business assets.
Can Probate Lawyers Assist in High Net Worth Divorce Cases in Vancouver?
Probate lawyers in vancouver bc can play a vital role in high net worth divorce cases by handling complex estate matters. Their expertise ensures proper evaluation of assets, including trusts and inheritances, while navigating legal processes. This specialized knowledge helps protect financial interests and achieve fair settlements during such intricate proceedings.
Top 6 things to consider in high net worth divorces
Because high-net-worth individuals often have very complex personal and business finances, high-net-worth divorces really require the expertise of a family law specialist.
Your divorce lawyer should have extensive experience working with business and professional practice assets, retirement assets, investments, stock options, and real estate issues.
Here are the top six things you should know about high net worth divorce:
1. IT TAKES A PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Besides your lawyer, you will need to hire forensic accounting specialists and asset and real estate valuation experts. But you may also need mental health and other medical experts, insurance and tax professionals, among others.
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REQUIRE INTERPRETATION
Corporate financial statements have an impact on assessing the value of the business and associated property that may be evaluated or divided. It’s important to understand the schedules of depreciation, bonuses, executive compensation, etc. These can all have a huge impact on net worth assessment.
3. BUSINESS ASSETS CAN BE SPLIT IN DIFFERENT WAYS
A business or professional practice can be split by dividing shares among the parties or by a payment that formally removes one party from any role or interest in the business. Your lawyer should advise you on the way to divide or dispose of business interests that work best for your circumstances.
4. A HIGH NET WORTH DIVORCE CAN HAVE BIG TAX IMPACTS
You should discuss the tax implications of your divorce and consider it when making every decision. The tax consequences can be felt for generations if not handled correctly. This is especially true for handling in-kind division, pensions, and contingent tax liabilities.
5. CANADIAN CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY IN HIGH NET WORTH DIVORCES
For most divorces, the “FEDERAL CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES” or “Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines” determine fair support amounts.
However, in high-net-worth cases, the courts recognize that there are other considerations that go beyond these guidelines.
For example, one spouse may have a small personal income but additional corporate income that can impact the evaluation, or the divorce may impact a spouse’s earning potential if that spouse is no longer able to participate in a business.
6. PROPER AND COMPLETE DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE IS ESSENTIAL
High-net-worth divorces require an overwhelming amount of documentation. It’s important that both spouses fully gather and disclose all information, but getting these documents can be daunting.
Because they are not emotionally involved, it’s usually easier for a lawyer to gather the appropriate documents and ensure full and timely disclosure by both parties.
Disclosing finances in a high net worth divorce
In a high net-worth divorce, it’s very common for spouses to suspect that their partner has not appropriately handled their finances. They may think that their spouse is hiding money, has written off too many corporate expenses, avoided taxes, or otherwise mishandled funds.
This may require a lawyer to review monthly personal and corporate accounts periodically. A divorce lawyer experienced in dealing with high net-worth divorce and separation cases can help you avoid any false allegations that could cause trouble with the CRA by providing a full account review and disclosure to divorcing spouses.
Contact Spectrum Family Law Vancouver, BC to review to protect your assets
Divorces can be very emotional and have devastating consequences for both parties. High net worth divorces have additional complexities and challenges that can make divorce even more difficult. At Spectrum Family Law, we can help you negotiate an outcome that provides full, honest disclosure.
We work with a team of professionals to ensure your high net worth divorce provides the best outcome for your circumstances.
To schedule a consultation with a high net worth divorce lawyer.
Our Vancouver intake staff are standing by to help you. Call 778-452-0221 [toll free 1 (877) 402-1004] or contact us online for general inquiries.
We also have a dedicated intake form to help you get the ball rolling. Our intake team will review your specific case and advise you on the next steps to take as well as what to expect moving forward.
Our Vancouver office is open 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Mon—Fri.
Madison Lussier
FAMILY LAWYER
Assisting clients through some of the most challenging times in their lives has shaped Madison’s empathetic, professional, and trauma-informed approach to advocacy. Although she now specializes exclusively in family law, her confidence in the courtroom is largely derived from her previous experience in criminal defence.
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