The end of any Colorado marriage is a difficult time. As much as both partners may want to move on and start their new lives, sometimes, challenges in the divorce take time to work through. This is particularly true when the issues are contentious and require complex litigation. And, the scenario is compounded for couples in a high-asset divorce.
For example, back in 2009, the wife of the man who founded Cancer Treatment Centers of America filed for divorce. The multimillionaire couple was married for over 20 years and had an adult daughter. Although they had a prenuptial agreement, it indicated that if the marriage lasted for a certain length of time, alimony payments would be open to negotiation.
The couple spent years trying to settle on an out-of-court agreement, but eventually went to court in 2016. The litigation was hard fought on both sides, in part over the alimony issue, but also over allegedly hidden assets and other accusations. Ultimately, the court awarded the wife $55,000 per month in alimony and a lump-sum payment of $6.5 million.
While this may seem like a generous judgment, she is appealing the decision. Her argument is that her husband’s multiple estates and other high-value assets were not appraised correctly during the trial. Therefore, she is seeking a higher amount based on a higher asset valuation.
A high-asset divorce involving property interests and complex asset division is a matter for a legal professional with significant experience. It does not have to involve a high-profile couple with the kind of wealth in the above story. Even a modestly successful business can lead to challenges in a divorce that require knowledge and experience to navigate successfully.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Ex-wife of Cancer Treatment Centers founder appeals multimillion-dollar divorce ruling,” Amanda Marrazzo, Dec. 14, 2017
