High Net Worth Divorce
Protecting Your Wealth in
High-Net-Worth Divorce
When significant assets are on the line, every detail matters.
High-net-worth divorce brings unique challenges that go beyond the typical legal process. Complex assets, business interests, and long-term financial stability all become part of the discussion, making it essential to approach each decision with precision and strategy.
Whether your priority is protecting a business, preserving investments, or maintaining financial stability, Jacobs Berger can help you navigate each stage with a plan tailored to your specific goals.
We work with clients to address asset division, tax implications, and settlement structures with clarity and discretion. Our approach focuses on safeguarding your wealth while positioning you for long-term financial stability.
Contact our team to schedule your strategic planning session.
What Is a High-Net-Worth Divorce?
A high-net-worth divorce generally involves parties with substantial financial assets, often exceeding $1 million. These cases require detailed financial analysis, especially when dividing property, investments, and business interests.
At Jacobs Berger, we help clients assess and protect business ownership, stock options, real estate holdings, inheritances, and more. We ensure all assets are properly identified and valued, giving you the clarity to make informed decisions and avoid costly oversights.
High-net-worth divorces may also involve prenuptial agreements, complex tax structures, and privacy concerns, meaning that experienced legal counsel is vital to safeguard financial interests and minimize exposure.
Common issues in a high-net-worth divorce
High-net-worth divorces can reveal details and complexities that aren’t immediately obvious, from business valuations to tax implications tied to investments and compensation packages.
At Jacobs Berger, we’ve seen how asset division can shape the outcome of a divorce settlement. The following are some of the most common—and sometimes most contentious—issues that arise in high-net-worth cases.
Business ownership and division
If you or your spouse own a business, divorce can affect both your personal finances and the company’s future.
Jacobs Berger works closely with forensic accountants and business valuation experts to assess fair market value, analyze income streams, and ensure the accurate valuation of assets.
We also help clients determine the most practical approach for division. Some options include:
Business division option | Description | It may work best when… |
| Buyout | One spouse purchases the other’s business share | Business owners want sole control |
| Co-Ownership | Both spouses retain ownership | Parties share goals, and divorce is amicable |
| Sell the Business | Business is sold, and proceeds are split | Neither spouse wants ownership |
| Structured Payouts | Payments made over time instead of a lump sum | Businesses have liquidity concerns |
Determining the best option depends on the business’s financial structure, tax and estate planning needs, valuation, and the bigger-picture financial goals of parties and entities, which may not always align.
Alimony (spousal support) in high-net-worth divorce
Alimony can be one of the most complex parts of a high-net-worth divorce, especially when one spouse earns significantly more or holds substantial assets. Standard approaches often fall short when income includes business profits, stock options, or investments.
New Jersey courts consider multiple factors when determining alimony, including the following:
- The length of the marriage
- Each spouse’s earning capacity
- The lifestyle established during the marriage
Remember that in high-net-worth cases, support may be structured around how and when income is received—through annual bonuses, deferred compensation, or investment returns. This approach ensures that the arrangement reflects each spouse’s financial circumstances while supporting long-term stability.
Child custody and child support
Child custody and child support issues in high-net-worth divorces often involve more complex considerations than standard cases. Parents may juggle demanding careers, manage multiple residences, or navigate complex schedules that don’t fit what some might consider more traditional parenting plans.
Jacobs Berger helps clients personalize child custody and support solutions to ensure their child’s well-being. We address issues such as travel, multi-home living, and access to private or specialized education and extracurriculars.
We work closely with clients to develop custody arrangements that reflect their unique family dynamics, ensuring parenting time is practical, balanced, and in the child’s best interest.
For high-net worth families, standard guidelines don’t necessarily apply. Instead additional analyses and discretionary additions may be required. We help parents understand the obligations, what their options are, and how to proceed in a way that puts their child’s best interests first.
Stock options and executive compensation
Stock options, restricted stock units, carried interests, top hat pension plans and deferred compensation—these situations are often part of high-net-worth divorces. They also require careful analysis to ensure accurate valuation and fair division.
Because these assets often vest over time and carry significant tax implications, accounting for current and future value is essential.
In cases where the asset cannot be divided by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), creative alternate solutions need to be implemented. Jacobs Berger collaborates with financial experts to identify, value, and structure settlements involving executive compensation packages.
Retirement assets and QDROs
Retirement assets, including pensions and investment accounts, often represent a significant portion of marital property. Dividing these assets requires precision, particularly when a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is necessary to avoid penalties.
Our attorneys work with financial advisors to evaluate retirement accounts, navigate the QDRO process, and structure agreements that protect both parties’ long-term interests. We also help clients consider tax implications when dividing IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement funds.
How Jacobs Berger Can Help De-Stress Your High-Net-Worth Divorce
High-net-worth divorce can feel daunting, especially when significant assets, business interests, and long-term financial stability are at stake. The right legal strategy can mean the difference between a stressful process and one that protects your interests while maintaining focus on what’s important to you.
At Jacobs Berger, we:
- Work with you to establish a thorough financial analysis to identify all marital assets, including businesses, investment portfolios, executive compensation, and international accounts.
- Collaborate with forensic accountants to work on uncovering hidden assets and establish accurate valuations so negotiations start from a place of transparency.
- Tailor legal strategies to reflect your priorities, whether negotiating an equitable settlement, protecting future income streams, or pursuing litigation when necessary.
- Deliver practical solutions that protect your financial well-being while keeping the process as efficient and low-conflict as possible.
Our attorneys understand that your divorce settlement will shape your future, and we approach each case with the discretion, skill, and insight to achieve the best possible outcome.
