San Antonio High Net Worth Divorce Lawyer

Representing High-Income Clients in Divorce

If you have a substantial estate and plan on filing for divorce, you might be concerned about how you’ll protect your assets and walk away with what is rightfully yours. You might be worried about having to pay alimony or about losing part of the business you worked so hard to grow.

Filing for divorce as a high-income individual doesn’t have to be the headache you might be expecting. At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC, we offer the comprehensive legal counsel needed to get you to the other side while reducing stress and focusing on results. We understand the unique circumstances of your situation and recognize that your case requires a personalized and determined approach. Our San Antonio high-asset divorce lawyer in is ready to see your case through to a successful conclusion.

Property Division in High Net Worth Divorces

Fairly dividing marital property is usually the most complex aspect of a high net worth divorce. After property has been categorized as marital (meaning it is shared by both spouses) or separate (meaning it belongs only to one spouse), you’ll have to accurately appraise each asset.

Assets to consider and value in your high net worth divorce include:

• Retirement accounts
• Businesses owned by you and/or your spouse
• Investments
• Stock options
• Real estate
• Jewelry, art, and other valuable collectibles
• Bank accounts
• Intellectual property (trademarks, patent, copyrights)
• Inheritances or trusts
• Vehicles
• Other intangible assets worth value

Our San Antonio high net worth divorce lawyer can work with you and with financial experts to appraise assets and uncover potentially hidden assets. We fight for our clients and refuse to settle for a less-than-ideal property division agreement.

How Is Retirement Divided in a Divorce?

Since Texas is a community property state, all assets acquired during the marriage are subject to division in a divorce, including any retirement assets acquired during the marriage. These will be divided equitably, which does not always mean an equal 50/50. That is why it’s important to have a skilled attorney on your side to protect your pension in a divorce.

How to Navigate a High-Asset Divorce

Given that high asset divorces are so complicated, small mistakes can turn into costly consequences if the appropriate precautions are not taken. As you navigate this process, keep these tips in mind.

Create a Plan

It’s important to have a plan to help you maintain a clear vision of what you want to accomplish throughout the process. Before filing for divorce, consider the following:

• The impact of the divorce on children involved, including potential living situation and custody
• How your lifestyle, finances, assets, and living situation will change
• What you want out of the divorce in terms of goals and assets
• If you manage divorce in court, mediation, negotiation, or arbitration

Work With an Experienced Attorney

It is always in your best interests to retain the services of a skilled attorney when faced with a high asset divorce. With the complexities of a high net worth divorce, it is very easy for details to slip through the cracks if you were to try and handle the divorce yourself, which can be to your detriment and lead to an unfair division of assets.

At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC, some of the ways our team assists clients is by:

• Distinguishing which assets are marital property and which are separate property
• Accurately identifying and appraising assets
• Dividing up shared interests in a business
• Considering tax liabilities in the division of assets
• Assessing existing prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
• Determining potential alimony payments
• Guiding you through child custody matters

Our experienced attorneys regularly work with forensic accountants, divorce appraisal specialists, and other professionals to correctly find, identify, and assess assets in a high net worth divorce.

Taking the Right Approach for Your Case

At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC, we believe that most divorces are best resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration. We strive to walk clients through their divorce without resorting to litigation. That said, Derek is a fierce trial lawyer who is prepared to fight for you in court when necessary. No matter how your case is resolved, we remain focused on ensuring that you get the results you are seeking.