Cary, NC High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyers

High-net-worth divorces come with unique financial complexities, requiring the guidance of skilled legal professionals who can safeguard your assets and help you achieve a secure financial future. At Triangle Smart Divorce, our dedicated Cary high-net-worth divorce lawyers understand the challenges involved and provide strategic legal solutions tailored to your needs!

Key Takeaways:

• High-net-worth divorces often involve a wide range of assets, including less conventional types like business interests, cryptocurrency, non-qualified plans, and international holdings, which can be difficult to value for the purpose of division. 
• Many high-net-worth couples choose mediation to maintain confidentiality, save time and money, and retain control over asset division and tax considerations without court intervention.
• Enforcing pre- and post-marital agreements, structuring support arrangements, and crafting tailored financial plans can help protect your wealth while minimizing unnecessary conflict.

Having a high-net-worth comes with many advantages, but navigating divorce isn’t one of them. For individuals in your financial position, the old saying applies – when you have more, you have more to lose. But at the end of the day, you likely have two main goals: protecting what you’ve built and securing a solid foundation for your and your family’s future.

At Triangle Smart Divorce, we transform those goals into your reality. Our skilled Cary high-net-worth divorce lawyers help smart people avoid stupid, costly mistakes by crafting personalized agreements tailored to your needs. With over 200 years of combined experience, we’ve handled countless high-stakes cases with complex financial portfolios. We’ll help you clarify your goals and then design a strategic plan to navigate your divorce in a way that aligns with the life you’re trying to build.

Even if you’re unsure whether divorce is the right path, consulting with an attorney early in the decision-making process can help you understand your options and prepare for potential next steps. Being proactive puts you in the strongest possible position should you choose to move forward!

Connect with us today and book your initial consultation to learn more about how we can make a difference in your case.

What Sets High-Net-Worth Divorces Apart?

Your financial portfolio determines whether you qualify as high-net-worth. Typically, individuals with at least $1 million in liquid assets fall into this category. These assets can include:

• Interests in businesses
• Multiple forms of real estate
• International assets
• Stock options and RSUs
• Retirements and brokerage accounts
• Non-traditional assets like cryptocurrency, patents, copyrights, or NFTs
• Inheritances

Generally speaking, the more assets you own and the more complex they are, the more financially intense your divorce will be. This is why having the guidance of our knowledgeable Cary high-net-worth divorce lawyers is vital to securing the results you’re seeking. We arm you with the insights necessary to address these highly-nuanced aspects of divorce and make the best decisions for your future.

Common Challenges in Cary High-Net-Worth Divorces

• Identifying Assets – Many high-net-worth couples have their assets spread throughout multiple different accounts, so some investigation into where assets are being held may be necessary before they can be properly identified and accurately valued.
• Estimating and Dividing Business Assets – Properly evaluating business interests in a divorce requires considering multiple factors, including the company’s formation date, its structure, the spouse’s involvement (if any), and other key financial details.
• Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements – Marital agreements are much more common in high-net-worth marriages because they allow couples to predetermine how assets will be classified, valued, and divided in the event of divorce. They also override North Carolina property division procedures in most cases, as long as they are legally valid. It’s vital that you inform our Cary high-net-worth divorce lawyers if you have a marital agreement in place so that we can structure our strategy around it.
• Alimony and child support – Support matters in high-net-worth divorces demand careful consideration, especially since North Carolina Child Support Guidelines do not apply to families with a combined income exceeding $480,000 per year. This figure includes all sources of income, including gifts from family members and business perks for self-employed individuals. While the IRS has its own definition of income, North Carolina’s child support and alimony laws use different criteria, making it essential to navigate these financial nuances with the support of our Team.

Is Mediation the Right Path for Your Situation?

For many high-net-worth couples, mediation is the ideal process for reaching a divorce agreement when complex assets are involved. There are several reasons why:

• Mediation is cost-effective – Resolving disputes amicably outside of court can help minimize financial losses and protect your overall wealth.
• Mediation allows you to maintain control over the outcome – When you leave decisions about your divorce up to the court, important issues like property division (among others) are no longer in your hands. This can lead to  undesired consequences, especially in regards to property and sentimental items, like family heirlooms.
• Tax considerations can be preemptively addressed – Courts have limited authority to address future tax implications, which often results in assets being viewed based only on their value at the time of separation. This means little consideration will be taken into account for embedded taxes that may come to fruition down the road.

In contrast, mediation allows couples to take a more comprehensive approach to tax aspects by factoring in income, business tax implications, and future financial potential with far fewer restrictions. This flexibility enables a more realistic and strategic division of assets; couples are able to get a clearer picture regarding their finances as a whole, rather than simply what it looks like on paper.

• Mediation is faster than waiting on the court – Asking the court to intervene in your divorce is a sure-fire way to make sure it takes as long as possible. Litigation is slow, tedious, and fragmented – none of which is ideal when you’re trying to move on to the next chapter.

Mediation, on the other hand, focuses on finding common ground and minimizing court involvement, allowing couples to resolve nearly all issues except the divorce itself in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. By avoiding repeated court appearances for you, your lawyer, and any expert witnesses involved in your case, you can achieve a faster, less-draining resolution.

• Mediation is confidential – Since mediation takes place outside of court, your private information does not become public record (unless a detailed Consent Order is filed). This level of discretion is especially valuable for high-net-worth individuals who prioritize privacy in their personal and financial matters.

While the decision to pursue mediation is ultimately up to you, it’s important to step back and consider the bigger picture: what are your long-term goals, and which approach will help you achieve them with the least amount of stress, expense, and disruption? While mediation is often the answer, every case is different, and if litigation becomes necessary, our Cary high-net-worth divorce lawyers will be your advocates in court!

Discover Why Our Cary High-Net-Worth Divorce Lawyers Are Trusted Allies in High-Stakes Situations

Our strategic SMART divorce framework was designed with you in mind – a real person with real goals. We can get you where you want to be, faster and without any needless legal headaches. Let us help you protect what matters most and move forward peacefully! Call today to request your consultation and speak with a member of our Team about how we can give you an advantage.