Legal Information Notice: This checklist provides general educational information only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and may not apply to your jurisdiction or circumstances. Laws and deadlines vary. Do not rely on this checklist for a specific legal decision or deadline; consult a qualified attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
- High-value divorces can involve substantially more complex financial analysis.
- Asset ownership can differ from economic benefit.
- Business interests can require professional valuation.
- Private companies can be difficult to value.
- Real estate values require evidence.
- Investment portfolios may contain tax consequences.
- Trusts can complicate ownership analysis.
- International assets can add complexity.
- Executive compensation can require specialized analysis.
- Stock options can have complicated treatment.
- Restricted stock can create valuation questions.
- Retirement assets require careful analysis.
- Insurance policies may have meaningful value.
- Debt must be investigated as carefully as assets.
- Hidden liabilities can materially change net worth.
- Tax liabilities can change settlement economics.
- Prenuptial/postnuptial agreements matter.
- Valuation dates can matter.
- Financial experts can become expensive.
- Multiple specialists can increase costs quickly.
- Privacy and confidentiality deserve careful attention.
- Aggressive litigation can destroy value through professional fees.
- Settlement structures can be more important than headline dollar amounts.
- A large asset pool does not necessarily mean high liquidity.
- The key question is “What is the after-tax, after-debt, after-fee economic value?”
B. PREMIUM BUYER CHECKLIST
NET-WORTH MAP
☐ Real estate
☐ Businesses
☐ Investments
☐ Retirement
☐ Trusts
☐ Insurance
☐ Intellectual property
☐ Executive compensation
☐ Foreign assets
☐ Debt
SPECIALISTS
☐ Divorce attorney
☐ CPA/tax adviser
☐ Business valuation professional
☐ Financial adviser
☐ Forensic accountant where appropriate
☐ Other specialists
BUSINESS
☐ Ownership
☐ Revenue
☐ Profit
☐ Debt
☐ Assets
☐ Goodwill
☐ Minority/controlling interest
☐ Valuation methodology
TAX
☐ Capital gains
☐ Transfer consequences
☐ Retirement taxation
☐ Business taxation
☐ Property taxation
FINAL TEST
Calculate every proposed settlement on an:
AFTER-TAX + AFTER-DEBT + AFTER-FEE BASIS
FINAL QUESTION
What portion of the apparent settlement value will actually become usable wealth?
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