Complex divorce representation for executives, physicians, professional athletes, and business owners throughout Oakland County.
Call (248) 712-1462Business valuations, stock options, real estate portfolios, and digital assets.
370 E. Maple Road, 3rd Floor, in the heart of downtown.
Representing high-net-worth professionals who require discretion and precision.
High-net-worth divorce involves financial complexity that most family law attorneys rarely encounter. Jordan Dizik has built his practice around cases where the stakes are measured not just in dollars, but in careers, businesses, and reputations.
Dividing a marital estate that includes operating businesses, restricted stock, deferred compensation, and retirement accounts requires more than filling in blanks on a form. We work with forensic accountants, business appraisers, and pension actuaries to identify, value, and divide every asset in the estate. According to Martindale-Nolo's 2024 survey, the average contested divorce costs between $15,000 and $100,000 or more. The gap between those numbers often comes down to whether the financial analysis was done right the first time.
Executives, physicians, professional athletes, and public figures face risks in divorce that extend beyond the courtroom. A poorly handled filing can affect professional licenses, board positions, sponsorship agreements, and public perception. We use protective orders, sealed filings, and confidential settlement structures to keep sensitive financial and personal information out of the public record wherever possible.
Most high-asset divorces settle. But the ones that settle on good terms are the ones where the other side knows you are fully prepared to try the case. We prepare every matter with trial in mind, and when settlement is not possible, we have the courtroom experience to protect your interests in front of a judge.
Michigan is an equitable distribution state, meaning courts divide marital property fairly but not necessarily equally. When the estate is complex, small mistakes in classification or valuation can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Closely held businesses, professional practices, and partnership interests require formal appraisals. The treatment of enterprise goodwill versus personal goodwill, the selection of a valuation date, and the method of division all carry significant financial consequences. We retain qualified appraisers and work closely with them throughout the process.
Unvested stock options, restricted stock units, and executive deferred compensation plans present both valuation and timing challenges. Determining which portion is marital property and which is separate, and structuring a division that accounts for tax consequences, requires careful analysis. For more on how Michigan courts handle property classification, see our guide to property division.
Multiple properties, whether residential, commercial, or investment, must be individually appraised and their mortgage obligations, tax implications, and carrying costs accounted for. Properties held in LLCs or trusts add further complexity to the division.
Defined benefit pensions, 401(k) accounts, IRAs, and deferred compensation plans each require a different division approach. Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) must be drafted correctly to avoid tax penalties and ensure compliance with plan terms. Errors in QDRO drafting can be expensive and difficult to correct after the judgment is entered.
Roughly 40% of Americans under 40 now hold cryptocurrency, making digital asset discovery a standard part of modern divorce proceedings. Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and other digital holdings are treated as property under Michigan law. We work with digital forensic specialists when necessary to identify undisclosed wallets and exchange accounts. For a detailed look at how Michigan courts handle these assets, see Cryptocurrency and Divorce in Michigan.
A prenuptial agreement can simplify a high-asset divorce or complicate it, depending on how it was drafted and whether it meets Michigan's enforceability requirements. We handle both enforcement and challenges to prenuptial agreements, and we advise clients on whether their agreement is likely to hold up under scrutiny. For background on Michigan's requirements, see our prenuptial agreement overview.
A high-asset divorce follows the same procedural framework as any Michigan divorce: filing, temporary orders, discovery, mediation, and trial if necessary. Michigan imposes a 60-day waiting period for cases without minor children and 180 days for cases with children, under MCL 552.9f. But the practical reality of a complex estate changes every phase of that process.
Discovery is more extensive. Financial disclosure involves business records, tax returns, brokerage statements, compensation agreements, and sometimes forensic analysis of spending patterns or hidden transfers. Expert witnesses, including business appraisers, forensic accountants, and vocational evaluators, are often retained by both sides. Temporary support and interim access to marital funds must be addressed early, particularly when one spouse controls the family finances.
Settlement negotiations in high-asset cases also carry distinct considerations. Tax implications of different division structures can shift the real value of a settlement by significant amounts. A buyout of a business interest, the division of a pension, or the allocation of capital gains exposure all require careful modeling before any agreement is signed.
Only about 10% of divorces result in spousal support awards (Reuters), but high-income cases are disproportionately likely to involve support disputes. Whether you are seeking or defending against a spousal support claim, the analysis must account for the standard of living during the marriage, each party's earning capacity, and the duration of the marriage.
There is no statutory threshold, but the term generally applies when the marital estate includes complex or illiquid assets: businesses, professional practices, stock options, multiple real estate holdings, retirement accounts, or digital assets like cryptocurrency. These cases require specialized valuation work and often involve forensic accountants and other financial experts.
Michigan courts typically rely on qualified business appraisers who use one or more standard methods: income-based, market-based, or asset-based, depending on the nature of the business. The valuation date, the treatment of goodwill, and whether the business is a marital or separate asset are all issues that must be addressed. See our property division guide for more detail.
Yes. Cryptocurrency is treated as property under Michigan law and is subject to equitable distribution. Roughly 40% of Americans under 40 now hold cryptocurrency, making digital asset discovery an increasingly routine part of high-asset proceedings. Courts can and do order disclosure of exchange accounts, wallet addresses, and transaction histories. We cover this topic in depth in Cryptocurrency and Divorce in Michigan.
Costs vary widely depending on the complexity of the estate and the degree of conflict. According to Martindale-Nolo's 2024 survey, the average contested divorce ranges from $15,000 to $100,000 or more. High-asset cases with business valuations, expert witnesses, and extended litigation tend toward the upper end of that range. We discuss fees and billing expectations at the initial consultation.
Divorce filings in Michigan are public record. However, courts can and do seal specific financial documents, settlement terms, and other sensitive information when there is good cause. For clients in the public eye, we routinely seek protective orders to limit the exposure of confidential financial and personal details.
If you are facing a complex divorce involving significant assets, a business, or high-profile circumstances, the most useful first step is a direct conversation with an attorney who handles these cases regularly. Call the firm or request a consultation below.
Call (248) 712-1462Consultations are confidential. Evening and weekend appointments available.