High-Asset Divorce in Missouri

Business, Farms, Real Estate & More

Divorces involving significant assets and complex estates require diligent protection of your interests, especially when litigation becomes necessary. Our firm emphasizes aggressive and effective legal representation to thoroughly safeguard the wealth you've accumulated throughout your marriage.

High-net-worth divorces—those involving over $1 million in assets—present unique financial, legal, and emotional challenges that require strategic handling. Lotspeich Law, LLC positions itself as experienced in managing these complex cases, offering the resources and precision necessary to navigate contentious proceedings while protecting clients' interests during what is rarely a straightforward process.

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Complex Asset Division

Missouri is an equitable distribution state, which means marital property is divided fairly—but not always equally—between spouses. In high-net-worth cases, identifying what qualifies as marital versus separate property and assigning accurate valuations to each asset is essential.

Marital property typically includes any income, assets, or property acquired during the marriage, with limited exceptions for gifts and inheritances. High-value cases often involve:

  • Multiple income streams

  • Significant investment portfolios

  • Farming Operations: Multi-acre properties, livestock, equipment, and income-producing farmland.

  • Business ownership and partnerships

  • Real estate in multiple locations

  • High-value retirement and pension accounts

Proper classification and valuation of these assets often involve forensic accounting, business valuations, and tax planning to ensure an equitable outcome.

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Mediation and Settlement Options

Not all high-asset divorces need to be resolved in court. Mediation is a practical and cost-effective option that allows couples to resolve disputes in a structured but informal setting. It’s especially useful in divorces involving:

  • Significant wealth or property

  • Business ownership

  • High-conflict custody disputes

Through mediation, spouses retain more control over the outcome and avoid the time, stress, and expense of a trial. At Lotspeich Law, LLC, we work with experienced mediators to help you reach a resolution that aligns with your long-term goals.

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  • Tax documents laying out with calculator

    Employing Experts

    Valuing assets is complex, requiring experts who research documentation and prepare appraisal reports for court. These experts may need to testify about their valuations, so it's advisable to involve them early in legal proceedings.

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    Tax Considerations

    Distributing high-value property often involves significant tax considerations. A CPA or tax attorney should be consulted to assess tax implications, as these can influence how assets are divided. A seemingly fair 50/50 split might become unequal after accounting for taxes.

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    Complex Child Support

    Child support calculations consider factors like parental income, health insurance costs, and overnight stays. Determining the income of self-employed individuals can be particularly complex due to fluctuating earnings and the potential for undeclared cash transactions, making it harder to assess their true financial picture compared to those with regular employment.

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    Alimony or Spousal Maintenance

    Alimony, or maintenance in Missouri, is common in high-asset divorces, often due to one spouse's financial dependence after prioritizing family wealth growth while the other focused on childcare and home. Spouses can agree on maintenance terms, or the court will decide based on factors like age, marriage length, time needed for self-sufficiency, and the other spouse's ability to pay.

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Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can help you navigate your divorce with clarity and confidence.

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FAQs

  • High net worth divorces can often take a fairly long time to complete successfully. It’s not uncommon for this to take more than a year. This extended duration is mainly due to the significant amount of documentation and various forms of paperwork that must be meticulously reviewed to accurately determine exactly how much value the property owned by the couple is worth.

  • Forensic accountants, business valuation experts, and tax specialists may need to take an in-depth look into the financial records and determine precise asset values. I recommend reviewing our blog posts to learn more.

  • For a high net worth divorce, you could be looking at a minimum of one year before the divorce is officially finalized. In some particularly complex cases, it can take several years to reach a resolution. As an experienced divorce lawyer based in Warrensburg, Missouri, I possess the know-how, skills, and resources necessary to understand what to look for and how to effectively move the divorce process along with minimal hiccups and delays.

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