Mountain Brook Divorce Attorneys
The divorce process is mentally and financially draining, regardless of your income, the length of your marriage, and whether or not you have children. However, when you and your ex-partner earn a significant amount of money or have sizable assets, the stakes are raised. Both parties have a reason to fight for a division of assets that benefits them, and both sides may have the resources for a drawn-out court battle.
If you and your spouse are headed toward divorce and you’re not sure how to protect your assets, your rights to your children, and your financial future, we’re here to help. Our team of Mountain Brook, AL divorce lawyers will fight aggressively to represent your best interests and push for a fair outcome. Set up a consultation with Kirk Drennan Law now by calling us at 205-803-3500.
We’re Prepared to Handle Your Complex Divorce
By immediately discussing what you hope to get out of your Mountain Brook divorce, we can take on the complexities of your unique case. For many people, their primary concerns are financial. The more a couple has and the longer they have been married, the more complex their divorce is likely to be. From the start, you can trust Kirk Drennan Law to help you with complexities like:
- Significant income disparities. Many divorces involve massive income differences. Whether one spouse is the breadwinner, and one is the homemaker or both individuals work, this type of disparity has the potential to heavily favor one side. Regardless of which side you fall on in your divorce, we’ll push hard to make sure your best interests are represented.
- Individual properties and assets. If one or both parties were individually wealthy coming into the marriage, it’s likely that at least some of their assets are individual in nature. If you can prove that your assets are individual and not marital property, you can avoid splitting them up in the divorce. However, convincing the court that your assets are yours alone can be an uphill battle. We can help.
- Retirement funds. Assets don’t just come in the form of massive bank accounts and homes. Many people prioritize retirement planning, which means that a sizable chunk of their assets is found in pensions, retirement plans, and other retirement accounts. Splitting these assets can lead to serious tax penalties if not handled properly.
- Stock investments. A healthy stock or investment portfolio is a prize asset during a divorce, particularly if one party is an executive that owns substantial stock in their company.
- Business ownership. Whether you own several businesses or have a hand in your family business, the division of business assets can be a sensitive topic in your divorce. To handle a business division properly, it must be first accurately valuated and assessed.
- Spousal support. Spousal support is a common topic in Mountain Brook, AL divorce cases. There are numerous factors that go into alimony and spousal support divisions, and whether you’re on the paying or receiving end, you deserve to know that your concerns are being addressed.
- Tax implications of divorce. Liquidating or transferring assets can lead to enormous tax penalties. However, there are ways around most taxation issues that arise in divorce.
Challenges in High Net Worth Divorces
While no divorce is easy, high net worth divorces come with their own set of unique problems. You can talk to our team about:
- Hidden assets. When there are substantial assets at stake, one party may try to hide assets by transferring them to loved ones, selling them for below market value, or transferring them to accounts outside the country. Our team has contacts in forensic accounting to track down hidden assets and hold your partner accountable.
- Income disparities and how those are handled by the court. Partners with significant income disparities may struggle to be treated fairly by the court. On one hand, a low-earning partner may be unable to hire the legal assistance they need without access to their partner’s assets. They deserve to be fairly represented during a divorce. On the other hand, the high-earning partner wants to ensure that their hard work isn’t entirely lost to their ex-spouse in a divorce. Both of these concerns deserve consideration.
- Proper appraisals and valuations. Without careful valuation and appraisal of assets, a fair division of assets is impossible. This is often difficult for couples looking for divorce attorneys in Mountain Brook, since many high-value assets require expert valuation and input.
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. If you and your ex-partner signed a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, topics like the division of assets and alimony can become more complicated. One party may believe they were treated unfairly during the prenuptial agreement process, or the agreement may be inherently unfair.
- Differences in financial and non-financial sacrifices. When a marriage ends, both parties’ sacrifices for the family deserve to be recognized. This includes financial contributions and non-financial contributions.
Parenting Issues and Concerns
Parenting questions commonly come up with our Mountain Brook clients. We understand that parents fear losing valued time with their children. However, you have a right to meaningful time with your children, and your children deserve to have both parents involved in their lives. If you are the high earner in your marriage, you may worry that your work schedule or limited parenting time will work against you in custody decisions.
If you are the primary caretaker of your children, you may worry that your limited income will make the court look at you unfavorably and assume that you cannot continue caring for your children. Regardless of which side of the divide you fall on, we understand the importance of this topic and will work hard for an agreement that is fair to you and your children.
Contact Our Team Now
If you’re ready to hire a divorce attorney in Mountain Brook, AL, the team at Kirk Drennan Law is ready to discuss your options with you. We understand the emotional challenges you’re facing, which make it even more important that you have an objective and committed legal team working for you. Take the first step now and call us at 205-803-3500 or contact our team online.
