A divorce is never easy! Emotions can run wild when discussing your child’s custody, parenting schedules, and other private matters. You can help alleviate some of the stress and other complexities of a divorce with the help of a skilled Greenwich, CT, divorce lawyer. Douglas Family Law Group can assist you with all matters regarding your divorce and help you avoid making snap judgments.
Our Greenwich attorneys will advocate for you on matters regarding maintenance and property distribution. Consider the implications of dissolving a marriage. You don’t have to shoulder the aftermath of a broken marriage alone.
Contact Douglas Family Law Group at 914-615-9058 to schedule a professional consultation with an experienced and compassionate Greenwich divorce attorney.
Divorce
Connecticut law permits divorce for reasons, regardless of the fault. If you meet the residency requirements, you must submit a Complaint for Divorce, informing the court of your wishes. You must also include a justification for the divorce in the complaint.
What Are the Common Grounds for Divorce in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, specific grounds can be used to obtain a divorce. These grounds include, but are not limited to:
- Irretrievable breakdown
- Intentional separation
- Adultery
- Fraudulent contract
- Habitual intemperance
- Imprisonment
- Mental incapacitation
What Is Equitable Division and How Does It Work?
Connecticut courts use an equitable distribution process to divide the property. The law guarantees that each spouse receives a fair share of marital assets for a comfortable living.
Connecticut family law courts have considerable authority to award the property to either spouse in divorce regardless of how it is named during the purchase or whether it was a gift or an inheritance. All assets are regarded as marital property, which means everything you or your spouse own (jointly or independently) is up for grabs during a divorce.
What Does Contested Divorce Mean?
A contested divorce is one where spouses disagree on how to end their marriage. In a contested divorce in Connecticut, you appear in court, where the judge rules on your divorce. This type of divorce is the most costly, challenging, and time-consuming type.
Contact a Douglas Family Law Group Divorce Attorney in Greenwich Today
Connecticut residents facing a divorce should hire a Greenwich family law attorney to assist them with the complex and often nerve-wracking proceedings. Our divorce lawyers in Greenwich, CT, can handle every aspect of the divorce, including child custody, maintenance, and business valuation.
Maintenance
Maintenance, also known as spousal support, involves a series of payments from one spouse to the other. It is advisable to thoroughly understand how maintenance in Connecticut works when going through a divorce.
What Is Spousal Support and Spousal Maintenance?
The court may order you or your spouse to make some payments to support an under-financed partner after a divorce or legal separation. Depending on the circumstance, an maintenance or spousal maintenance order from the judge might run for a specified or unspecified period.
How Is Maintenance Determined?
There is no predetermined formula for calculating maintenance in Connecticut. Typically, several factors are considered when determining maintenance, including but not limited to the following:
- The length of your marriage
- Age, health, and earning capacity of each spouse
- Each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, including homemaking and childcare
- The standard of living during your marriage
- The causes of your divorce
- Each spouse’s assets and income
- The need for the custodial parent to stay at home to care for the children
- Other relevant factors a Connecticut court deems necessary to arrive at a fair and equitable maintenance award
When Can I Stop Paying Maintenance?
Never stop paying maintenance unless the court orders you to. Each case is unique, and a judge may award transitional or permanent maintenance. The purpose of transitional maintenance is to provide short-term financial support to one party after the marriage dissolves. Only long-distance unions often have permanent maintenance.
However, there are instances where you can stop paying maintenance, such as when the law determines that your ex no longer needs maintenance. The court may also terminate maintenance obligations if the support recipient moves in with someone else, remarries, or dies.
Connecticut Divorce Attorneys Can Help in Deciding Maintenance
If you’re getting a divorce in Connecticut, you should always consult a family law attorney. At Douglas Family Law Group, our maintenance lawyers will provide you with the much-needed support and representation to obtain, contest, or modify maintenance.
Please call us directly at 914-615-9058 to schedule a case review.
Uncontested Divorce
Uncontested divorces are common in Connecticut and differ significantly from contested ones.
When a divorce is uncontested, it means that both parties have agreed on all major issues, including who will raise the children, how to divide the couple’s assets and debts, etc. While this procedure is much more straightforward than a contested divorce, it is still best for you to enlist the aid of a Connecticut divorce attorney.
What Is an Uncontested Divorce?
Are you considering an uncontested divorce? An uncontested divorce is a divorce proceeding where each spouse agrees on all major issues related to the divorce, including child custody, parenting schedules, division of assets and debts, and maintenance.
You won’t have to go to trial in an uncontested divorce. Instead, you only need to file a joint divorce petition, which a Connecticut court can approve without a hearing. This makes the process faster, less expensive, and less stressful for the parties involved.
However, it is still in your best interest to consult with our divorce attorneys in Greenwich, CT, to ensure your rights are protected and that the agreement is fair and equitable.
What Are the General Requirements for an Uncontested Divorce?
Several legal requirements must be met before you can file for an uncontested divorce in Connecticut. For starters, to begin the divorce process, your spouse must reside in Connecticut. Next, you must resolve all major issues, such as child support, custody, custody, parenting schedules, and visitation issues, before your uncontested divorce claim can go through.
A mediator can also help you resolve some of the issues that may arise. Anything you agree to and sign into writing becomes legally binding and is included in your divorce’s final paperwork.
What Are the Differences Between a Contested and Uncontested Divorce?
One of the most significant differences between contested and uncontested divorces is the time to complete the process. Most uncontested divorces are quick to conclude. Additionally, there is no need for a trial, discovery, or other drawn-out legal procedures in an uncontested divorce, making the process less costly.
Another notable difference between contested and uncontested divorce is your options to appeal the outcome.
Typically, uncontested divorces in Connecticut follow a no-appeal process because neither party wants to modify the terms of their divorce. However, this does not imply that all parties must always abide by the agreement. You can always modify the agreement depending on your unique circumstances.
Douglas Family Law Group: Talk to Uncontested Divorce Lawyers Near You in Greenwich, CT
While you and your spouse may aim for an amicable divorce without all the fighting, hating, name-calling, and other stressors, seeking reliable legal guidance during this challenging period is essential. The experienced family law attorneys at Douglas Family Law Group can assist you in making informed decisions throughout the divorce process and reaching a favorable settlement agreement.
While divorce can be trying, a new chapter of your life awaits on the other side. Contact us at 914-615-9058 to schedule a consultation with our uncontested divorce lawyers in Greenwich.
High Net-Worth Divorce
A divorce involving high-value assets presents more complex issues than an average divorce, including child custody and maintenance concerning private schools, vast real estate holdings, stock portfolios, multiple bank accounts, and business interests.
With years of experience, the divorce lawyer at Douglas Family Law Group can guide you through your high net-worth divorce process and protect your interests from start to finish.
What Does a High Net-Worth Divorce Lawyer Do?
High-stakes divorce cases can be dramatic, challenging, drawn out, and stressful. You can enjoy a less stressful process with the help of a qualified attorney. An attorney has the professional strength, experience, resources, and access to the best professional experts to effectively represent clients in these cases.
How Do I Know I Need a High Net-Worth Divorce Lawyer?
If you are going through a divorce involving significant assets and property, you must consider having a high-net-worth divorce lawyer in your corner. Our high-net-worth divorce lawyers can provide you with specialized legal representation and guidance in complex divorce cases with numerous valuable assets to consider.
So, how exactly can you tell you need a high-net-worth divorce lawyer? The family law attorneys at Douglas Family Law Group strongly recommend you hire a high-net-worth divorce attorney near you when the following factors are involved in your case:
- Multiple real estate properties;
- Multiple business interests;
- High-value trust and stock portfolios;
- High-value retirement accounts; and
- Other high-value assets.
Do you have a high net worth? If yes, Please consult an experienced attorney to evaluate your situation and advise you on the best course of action.
Let us help you protect your financial interests and ensure that your assets are divided fairly during the divorce proceedings.
How Can a Divorce Lawyer Help Me with My High Net-Worth Divorce?
Should you hire a high-net-worth lawyer? Your attorney’s qualifications and experience are crucial for safeguarding your assets during a high net-worth divorce. You typically require assistance from a skilled Greenwich divorce lawyer with access to top-tier financial experts to manage the division of assets and debts while safeguarding your financial interests. A high net-worth attorney can help you to:
Correctly Identify Assets
It is crucial to accurately list all the assets that can be divided during a divorce. A high-net-worth divorce attorney from Douglas Family Law Group has the expertise and knowledge to locate and value all assets in a high-net-worth divorce accurately.
Properly Value Assets
A Connecticut high-net-worth divorce attorney can also assist you in determining the value of all of your assets so that you can fairly divide them. This is important since determining the value of assets in a high-net-worth divorce is often challenging.
Help to Avoid Emotionally Charged Decisions
Divorces can be touchy and often involve overwhelming emotions. A high-net-worth divorce attorney can assist you in preventing your emotions from influencing your decisions during these trying moments.
Consult a High Asset Divorce Attorney in Greenwich, CT
A high net-worth divorce can quickly become time-consuming, stressful, and complex. Going through this process unprepared and without help can have severe implications. Avoid putting yourself in a vulnerable position. Seek the assistance of knowledgeable family law attorneys at Douglas Family Law Group.
Business Valuation
The value of a family business or closely held business is one of the most valuable things to divide during a divorce. Whether one spouse owns a business asset alone or jointly with the other spouse, the interest will be regarded as a part of the marital estate, and the other spouse will be entitled to a portion of its value. Usually, the issue arises when determining how much each spouse should receive from that interest.
What Is a Valuation Lawyer, and What Do They Do?
A business valuation attorney helps determine the value of a company and provides the owners with an unbiased assessment of its value. A business valuation often occurs when dividing assets during a divorce.
The divorce attorneys at Douglas Family Law Group know how intricate these corporate structures are. They are knowledgeable in determining whether a spouse has any ownership interests in the family business and the value of those interests.
How to Value a Business During Divorce
Courts use a great deal of discretion in determining the value of each asset and the value’s distribution among the parties when dividing marital property. As a result, it’s crucial to assign a precise value to each marital asset. There are three methods for calculating a company’s value.
- The income approach: This approach compares a company’s current value to its projected future earnings to determine its worth.
- The assets approach: Calculates a business’ value by determining the fair market value of its tangible and intangible assets.
- The market approach: This method evaluates how a business stacks up against similar competing companies in the same industry.
What Types of Information Will Be Looked at To Determine Value?
Divorce involves sharing crucial information, especially when determining the value of a business. The information is crucial to ensure that the partners are treated fairly. Examples include:
What the Business Owns
Tangible and intangible assets largely determine the value of a business. Tangible property includes inventory, savings accounts, and equipment used for conducting business. Intangible property examples may include software, patents, trademarks, and customer goodwill.
What the Business Owes
A liability is anything that costs the business money. These comprise loans, payroll, and other debts the business owes for goods, services, or money. Add up all of the company’s assets and deduct all of its debts to determine the net value of the enterprise.
Profitability of the Business
Profit is the difference between an organization’s income and its operating expenses. A business may compute its net profit weekly, monthly, or yearly.
Seek Douglas Family Law Group Business Valuation Assistance in Connecticut
Choosing how to value and divide a business is a challenging aspect of a divorce. This task is particularly tough when the asset is a corporation’s share. A divorce lawyer at Douglas Family Law Group can help you discover how much a business is worth, especially if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse worked together to start and grow the business.
Marital Property Division
Connecticut law mandates an equitable marital property division after divorce. An equitable division does not need to be equal. The judge considers many factors to reach a sensible conclusion.
What Is Property Division in Connecticut?
Property division determines who gets what and who is responsible for what during a divorce. A couple can agree on property settlement during a divorce, or the court will decide how to divide their assets. Connecticut is an equitable distribution state, meaning property acquired before and during the marriage can be divided following a divorce.
Connecticut law defines several other terms the courts must consider when dividing marital property. These include non-monetary contributions, funds spent on a partner’s education, financial misconduct, etc.
How Does a Marital Property Division Attorney Determine the Value Of Property?
A marital property division lawyer will typically follow a process to determine the property’s worth. First, your divorce lawyer will list all properties jointly and independently owned. Next, they will categorize the property. The classification process will help the court determine whether a property belongs to one or both parties.
Generally, all property a couple in Connecticut acquires during a marriage is marital property. Personal property is referred to as “separate property” in this case. In essence, the divorce lawyer must assign the couple’s assets a fair market value as of the date of their divorce. The total net value can be determined after releasing any liens.
What Is the Process of Dividing the Property?
In a divorce, Connecticut’s equitable distribution law differs significantly from equitable distribution laws in other states. Family law courts have the power to divide and allocate the to either spouse regardless of how the asset was named during purchase, whether it was a gift or an inheritance, or how it was acquired.
Connecticut is an all-property state, meaning everything a couple owns can be divided during a divorce. In other words, unless you can provide evidence to the contrary, a court will presume that all property you own is marital property.
Our CT Divorce Attorney Can Help You with Property Division in Connecticut
Connecticut judges divide property using the equitable distribution principle. In simple terms, the court will consider all property you and your soon-to-be ex own as property to be divided fairly. Our divorce attorneys in Greenwich, CT, are here to ensure you get a fair distribution of the assets.
Call 914-615-9058 to schedule a case review.
Get Legal Help You Can Count On During A Stressful, But Necessary Process
Whether you have been planning your divorce for a while or have just been unexpectedly served papers, it is crucial to have a divorce attorney who can protect your rights. Divorces are often complex and can quickly spiral out of control if not properly handled.
Planning, preparing, and working with an experienced divorce and family law attorney are essential steps when facing a divorce in Greenwich, CT. With the help of a Greenwich, CT divorce lawyer from Douglas Family Law Group, you can protect your interests and achieve a favorable outcome in your divorce.
Our skilled and compassionate Connecticut family and divorce lawyers will serve as knowledgeable and empathic guides and passionately advocate for your rights in court. We are fierce advocates whose thorough understanding of Connecticut family law has been helping restore peace in our clients’ lives.
Contact us at 914-615-9058 today to find out how we can serve you.
