Miami is home to many affluent business people, athletes and entertainment personalities. When divorce hits them, the financial aspects are exponentially more complex. Even when the split isn’t contentious, simply analyzing the assets and debts to arrive at an equitable distribution takes time and specialized resources. When the spouses are at odds — and especially when they are not fully honest — the challenge of achieving a fair settlement is even greater. When you retain Miami divorce attorney Lawrence S. Katz, you get many years of experience and a long track record of success in dealing with high-value divorces.
As part of a Florida divorce proceeding, each spouse must fully disclose all assets and debts on a statement of net worth. Typically, an affluent couple will have such property as:
Florida requires each spouse to file a financial affidavit, a sworn statement that their financial disclosure is true and complete. The spouses must produce tax returns for the last three years, bank account statements, earning statements and credit card statements.
But what happens when a spouse is dishonest and does not disclose assets? There are common ruses a spouse might employ to hide assets, such as:
Your spouse’s failure to fully disclose assets can put you at a considerable disadvantage in property settlement talks. But if you have an experienced attorney on your side, who knows how to spot the telltale signs and who has a team of professionals trained in forensic accounting at his disposal, you have a better chance of obtaining your fair share of the hidden property.
There are additional complex matrimonial matters that come with being an affluent couple embroiled in a divorce. These include:
When you retain our services, you get comprehensive legal advice that contemplates how every potential step taken by your spouse could impact your share of the marital property. We pore over every financial detail to help you obtain the greatest possible share of the wealth you deserve.
Under Florida’s equitable distribution law, assets and debts are treated identically for purposes of equitable distribution. Both are subject to valuation, which is often a contentious process. Spouses sometimes hide assets or hire appraisers who give low valuations. They also claim marital assets should be treated as separate property and try to place their own separate debt in the marital estate to be shared with their spouse. Finally, a spouse may try to challenge a prenuptial or postnuptial marital agreement, seeking nullification. When dealing with the various tactics warring spouses use to increase their property haul, there’s no substitute for your attorney’s experience in these matters.
At The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A., we provide comprehensive representation in contested divorces between high-net-worth couples. Our office is easily accessible from the Dadeland South Metrorail. Call us at 305-670-8656 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Se habla español.