Denver High Net Worth Divorce

It is common for high net worth divorce cases in Denver to last for many months, sometimes years, and cost a fortune as the issues get settled with litigation through the family courts.

However, there is another way.

With the help of the experienced divorce attorneys at Colorado Legal Group, successful resolution of the divorce is possible with a negotiated settlement that works in everybody’s best interests. We have great experience in bringing disputing parties together and working towards settlements that avoid long delays, great expense, and high-stress levels.

Wherever that’s not possible, we are well prepared to defend your best interests aggressively in court but will seek other possibilities first because we believe saving you time and money is in your best interests.

What is considered high net worth?

In the past, a high-net-worth divorce was defined as involving more than one million dollars in net liquid assets. However, nowadays, it’s generally considered to involve many millions of dollars.

Sometimes cases involving future high net worth are also an issue–for example a new business venture that is anticipated to be worth millions in the near future.

Why are high-asset divorce cases often more complex?

In general, when there is a high value of assets, property, cash and investments in a divorce case, it is more complex to reach a settlement. It is a fact of life that resolutions are more challenging when there are considerable assets at stake. One partner may want to claim more than the other partner is prepared to let go of. Often high asset divorce cases also involve separate property that needs to be traced, for example an inheritance or property owned before the marriage.

When children are involved, the challenges multiply. Child custody and support issues nearly always become more complex.

Similarly, the subject of spousal support may be difficult to reach agreement on in high net worth cases because one spouse is likely to have a significantly higher income than the other. In many cases, one spouse earns income while the other looks after the home and children, creating complications for both spouses when the relationship breaks down. This can make settlements far more difficult and litigation more likely. 

The courts are often sensitive to the financial dependence that one spouse may have had on the other and the associated impact that a marriage breakdown has on their lifestyle. In these cases, awards of spousal support may be substantial but may be reduced or increased with the help of an experienced lawyer.

Contested divorces usually take much longer to resolve than divorces where fewer assets are at stake. They require special skills from your legal representative. Other dedicated professionals may also need to be involved to provide professional opinions or evidence, such as appraisers and business valuators.

As such, your lawyer should be a trained negotiator able to work with a network of professionals to assist with:

• Tax assessments
• Forensic accounting (if there are suspected hidden assets)
• Private investigation
• Property valuation
• Business valuation
• Vocational evaluation

Without a comprehensive approach, you may not be able to optimize the divorce settlement outcomes you desire.