Property Division
It has been said that money is the #1 reason couples separate. It's true that money problems often lie at the heart of high-conflict divorce property division cases. Consequently, the divorce property division can quickly escalate out of control if not properly supervised and managed.
Westside Family Law maintains a strong reputation within the Vancouver legal community for our services in obtaining a fair divorce property settlement. We regularly assist corporate executives, elite artists, athletes and a variety of professionals with divorce property division concerns. As with all areas of our practice, we focus on resolutions that make sense for your needs and your family's particular circumstances.
“We seek to level the playing field by offering sound advice and responsive action to protect your right to a fair share under the law.”
Divorce Property Division and Preserving Wealth
Many of our clients have significant assets such as family businesses or private practices, multiple real estate holdings, pensions or other retirement savings, and extensive investment portfolios. Moreover, we have particular experience managing cases involving generational wealth, where parents or extended families have contributed to a marriage or relationship that has now broken up.
Negotiating a fair divorce property settlement where there are high-value or complex assets, requires delicate management and practical experience, nuanced skills that our firm brings to each case. We will seek to help you take the proper steps to protect your investments in the relationship so that you can move forward on a firm financial footing following your divorce property division.
The first step is to ensure that you own copies of all statements and accounts and that you document any agreements, verbal or otherwise, made between you and your partner. This documentation is critical to success, as a judge can only do so much without proper documentation. Our lawyers can assist you in gathering this evidence. We can also investigate cases where assets have mysteriously evaporated or instances where hidden assets are suspected.
Protecting Your Divorce Property Settlement
In general, it is difficult to recover assets spent by a spouse who runs down bank accounts or investments or racks up huge amounts of debt on shared credit cards after separation. Therefore, if your partner controls access to the money, investments, credit cards or the property you share jointly, you need to take steps right away to protect your pending divorce property settlement.
Too often, we have seen married and common law spouses get burned by assuming things will just work out because they are not accustomed to handling the taxes or financial affairs of the family. Or they sign divorce property settlements essentially waiving their rights to property or support. In some cases, such agreements can and have been reversed by the Court, but it is not guaranteed.
Our divorce property lawyers at Westside Family Law have extensive experience managing divorce property division cases. We know what experts to call on for support, if needed, to ensure that your divorce property settlement and family's interests are preserved. They include:
- Accountants
- Tax advisers
- Forensic experts
- Business valuators and appraisers
Our efforts include a review of your estate documents as well. Any inheritance bestowed on a child is considered excluded property if the child divorces or separates.
Get Your Questions Answered
Having a skilled and confident divorce property division lawyer at your side is thus critical to your success. We will help you understand the law and how it applies to your unique circumstances, taking the appropriate steps to protect your divorce property settlement. Fill out the contact form below to set up a consultation with a lawyer, or call us at 604-734-7911 to get started.