If a New Jersey couple decides to end their marriage, the judge overseeing their case will either approve their negotiated terms or will step in to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to achieve an amicable agreement on their own. When high assets are at stake in divorce, it can definitely have an impact on the ultimate outcome of the situation. Some people say that having high net-worth made their divorce less stressful; however, others have experienced negative consequences due to complex asset issues.
Not surprisingly, many business and entertainment celebrities negotiate or litigate divorces that involve high net-worth assets. A recent example is the split between Amazon.com, Inc., founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie. The latter reportedly is set to become one of the richest women in the world once the final details of the divorce are ironed out regarding assets worth more than $135 billion.
Some attorneys say that handling high asset cases is often easier than situations involving average incomes, simply because there is more money on hand to divide, which can make it easier to devise a plan that is satisfactory to both spouses. The former owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, on the other hand, had a much more difficult time during their proceedings. In this situation, the husband fired the wife as the team’s CEO, and accusations of insubordination and infidelity led to a highly charged emotional battle that was ironed out in public. The wife walked away with $130 million, but many say their contentious battle was a key factor to the team’s bankruptcy, which occurred soon after.
An attorney speaking about high asset divorce said some couples are able to avoid serious obstacles because they approach settlement negotiations as business transactions and stay focused on the bottom line. Others get caught up in emotional issues, which can complicate proceedings and take longer to resolve. Having an experienced attorney on hand in court is one of the easiest ways a New Jersey spouse can streamline the process and make sure that his or her financial interests are protected.