When people who have developed extensive and valuable collections of art, real estate or other items decide to divorce, the fate of these assets may hang in the balance. High-profile couples in the real estate and art world have moved toward divorce, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars of prized art pieces at stake. One divorce between two major real estate investors involves $800 million of art while another pair of collectors' hundreds of millions in art has led to serious delays in finalizing the end of their marriage. In the latter case, the couple remains far apart on reaching a settlement on property division.
Basic steps to determine the value of a pension plan
Dividing assets is a huge part of the process that North Carolina couples go through when getting a divorce, especially if it is a high-asset divorce. It is important to understand the value of an asset before it can be divided fairly. One of the most difficult assets to value is a pension plan. Here are basic principles that apply to dividing pension plans in a divorce.
Why digital currency can complicate a divorce
Cryptocurrency has been available to those living in North Carolina and elsewhere since 2009 when Bitcoin was introduced. However, digital currencies are now getting more time in the spotlight as they have increased in value and have gotten more attention from the media. For couples who are going through the divorce process, valuing a digital coin can be a contentious issue. It can also be tempting for an individual to sell or hide the asset from a spouse.
Compensation plans can be complex in high-asset divorces
High-asset divorces in North Carolina and around the country often involve spouses with complex compensation packages, which can add an extra layer of complexity to property division and alimony negotiations. Disputes can arise over whether income that is prepaid, deferred or subject to clawback provisions should be considered marital property or included when calculating income for alimony purposes, and people who do not pay attention to these matters may find that large amounts of money are either counted twice or not counted at all.
Divorce and the family business
North Carolina business owners who decide to divorce may face unique complications and concerns. In many cases, spouses worked together in a number of different ways to build a family business. Determining how to divide a business in an equitable way that satisfies both spouses can be a lengthy process. In order to divide a family business, each spouse should seriously consider their future plans for the company.
What happens to cryptocurrency assets in a divorce
Cryptocurrency may be an asset in the divorce of some couples in North Carolina. While the currency is only about 10 years old, it has become more mainstream, and in the years ahead, it may increasingly become a tool for people to hide assets. The Global Blockchain Business Council found that only 5 percent of Americans surveyed said they owned cryptocurrency, but more than 20 percent said they were considering purchasing some.
What wealthy couples can learn about divorce from Jeff Bezos
There are steps that high-asset couples in North Carolina who are ending their marriage can take to make the process less difficult. The world's richest man, Jeff Bezos, exemplifies this in the statement he released with his wife about their impending divorce that emphasizes cooperation.
Divorce, older women and financial futures
Since the 1990s, the divorce rate for men and women 50 years old and older has doubled. North Carolina women who are over the age of 50 and who get a divorce may face an uncertain financial situation after their divorce. According to a report issued by the UBS Global Wealth Management, 56 percent of married women allow their husbands to handle long-term financial decisions, so they can be financial vulnerable.
Planning for a financial future during a divorce
For some North Carolina couples, an impending divorce could make it necessary to take steps to protect their finances. One important step may be to separate joint accounts and open individual ones instead. People may want to use this account to save for divorce-related expenses. Couples might also order credit reports and review them both to ensure they are each informed about any existing accounts.
How artwork is treated during a divorce
It is not unusual for discussions over property division to become contentious when couples in North Carolina and around the country file for divorce, and these negotiations can become especially heated when the assets involved include artwork on which it can be difficult to place an accurate value. Art collections are generally acquired with great care over long periods, and spouses are often extremely reluctant to break them up or stand idly by as they are auctioned off.
