ASSET PROTECTION ADVOCACY IN HIGH NET WORTH DIVORCE
In a divorce, Massachusetts dictates that property be divided on an equitable basis — meaning the property should be divided fairly. This does not mean the property will necessarily be divided equally or at the same percentage. In fact, some assets are treated differently, such as family inheritances and retirement funds. Our goal is to anticipate how the court might act to help establish realistic expectations and produce a favorable outcome.
We provide asset protection guidance for our high net worth divorce clients. We have handled hundreds of divorce cases and understand the importance of proper, balanced division of marital property.
LENGTH OF THE MARRIAGE
Income, stock accounts and inheritances may all be divided in a divorce. The length of your marriage can carry significant influence over asset division. For instance, an inheritance received and put into a joint account during the third year of a 20-year marriage may be split equally. While an inheritance received during year 19- of a 20-year marriage and placed in a separate account probably would not be divided in the same manner.
COMMON PROTECTION ERROR
Many individuals believe that if an asset is in their name only then it belongs only to them. This is a major asset protection misconception. Under state law, assets in one spouse’s name are still considered marital property and subject to division. However, depending on factors, the court has discretion on how equally to divide the asset.
Our law firm has extensive experience handling asset protection issues for marital property. We can help determine how property may be divided, including:
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Homes
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Furnishings
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Valuable artwork
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Pets
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Bank accounts
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Retirement accounts
Retirement accounts can cause complicated pension division issues. Certain factors, such as contribution timing, can affect these accounts. It is important to consult a lawyer to help protect or uncover these assets.
PURSUING HIDDEN ASSETS
We understand that divorce carries specific fiduciary responsibilities. Each spouse is required to disclose their assets. We advise our clients to fill out their asset statements truthfully. When our client feels assets are being concealed by their spouse, we can also help pursue hidden assets. It is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible to help trace assets.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
ATTORNEY MONIQUE B. LAMB
Since founding the practice on January 4, 1999, Monique has dedicated her career to family law, providing clients with compassionate yet practical guidance through some of life’s most challenging moments. With over two decades of experience, she understands the complexities and emotional toll of family law cases and focuses on achieving resolutions while minimizing unnecessary conflict. [ ATTORNEY BIO ]
"Attorney Boucher-Lamb is thorough, resourceful, and a highly knowledgeable attorney. I hired her many years ago and we have worked together for the past eight years. She is professional, reliable, personable, and an overall fantastic attorney. I highly recommend her; she is fair and gets the job done."
-DANIELLE
"I had a fantastic experience with a very difficult time in my life. The divorce was hard for me, but Monique was the consummate professional. Without her guidance and support, I don't know how I would have made it through."
-DAWN M.
"Monique is a fantastic lawyer. She expeditiously helped my husband and I pull together our estate papers. She was very helpful with any questions I had, and was extremely thorough."
-JESSICA S.
"Monique helped me through one of the worst times of my life. She was always looking out for my interests, she is very knowledgeable in her field, and she is completely genuine."
-ANONYMOUS
Bankruptcy and divorce both have serious implications when it comes to your property; so, what happens when you have to undergo both at the same time? The impact of bankruptcy on property division in divorce is multi-faceted and highly complex; if you’re facing this situation, you should consider speaking to a lawyer. You likely have a lot of questions about how you should handle your property a[...]
