High Net Worth Divorce in Maryland and Washington, DC
The Washington, DC metropolitan area, including the Capital region of Maryland is home to some of the most affluent families in the nation. According to the most recent Census data, it is also amongst one of the most educated areas in the court. While having a greater degree of wealth is certainly nothing to complain about for those families fortunate enough to be included in this category, the reality is that divorce for high net worth families can be much more complicated in terms of property division, child support, and alimony, than in families who are not as fortunate with respect to their level of assets.
If you fall into the category of being a higher net worth individual and are contemplating a divorce, or your spouse has already filed for divorce, you should speak with an experienced Washington, DC or Maryland divorce attorney about the best ways to proceed with regards to your legal matter.
Remember to keep in mind that this process is about making sure you and your assets are protected from your spouse taking unfair advantage of you through a complicated legal process. This is true whether you are the higher income earner or the family, or a stay at home parent. It should also be noted that it is often possible for spouses to reach an agreement as to how assets will be divided and what child support or spousal support (alimony) will be paid rather than going to trial and having the court decide the verdict. While it may seem very unlikely at first, you would be surprised how effective mediation can be. This is especially true when the parties understand that the last thing they want is leaving important economic decisions up to a court to decide following an adversarial hearing.
It is also important to make sure your attorney has experience dealing with the division of complex retirement accounts, investment accounts, the transfer and sale of real property, as well as child support and alimony issues. You have likely sacrificed a lot to get to the position you now are in, and you do not want to leave things up to chance. With the higher salaries people are making in the area and the seemingly ever increasing value of real estate in places like Northwest DC and Bethesda, there can be a lot at stake.
As we often tell prospective clients, one of the best things you can do when deciding who to hire as your Maryland or Washington, DC divorce attorney is to spend the time to speak with that person and make sure you feel comfortable working him. You should also make sure that you are meeting with the person who will actually be handling your case.
Many firms like to tell clients that they use what is referred to as a “team approach,” but what that really translates to, is that you will be meeting with a more experienced attorney during your initial consult and then will not likely see that person again, as your case will be turfed to one of their recently hired attorneys.
If you need assistance with a high net worth divorce in Maryland or Washington, DC, please feel free to contact the Gross Law Firm, LLC.
