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A Bellevue divorce and inheritance lawyer represents the interests of clients when protecting generational wealth affected by the end of a marriage. The divorce lawyers at Twyford Law Office have 40 years of experience guiding clients through their high-asset divorces and a keen sense of their financial needs and goals. We work with a variety of financial experts, including planners, accountants, and retirement advisors, to ensure we succeed in delivering a comprehensive approach to your divorce.
Contact an attorney from our office today to learn how we could protect your inheritance during a high-asset divorce.
Under the Revised Code of Washington § 26.16.010, inheritance is the separate property of the spouse who receives it, which means it will not generally be subject to equitable distribution in a Bellevue divorce. Courts will still consider the extent and nature of a spouse’s separate property, including inheritance, when determining the equitable distribution of community property. Other factors considered are the:
A spouse’s inheritance at the time of a divorce could influence what the court views as fair and equitable in distributing other property. For example, the court may be more willing to distribute a greater share of community property to a spouse with limited separate property and inferior economic circumstances.
A spouse’s inheritance can also transition from separate to community property during a marriage, which can further impact its disposition in a divorce. Several issues can cause this to happen, including:
For example, a spouse who combines inheritance money with a joint bank account or uses it to purchase a marital asset, such as a primary residence, may risk a court viewing it as community property later in the divorce.
We work with experienced forensic accounting teams and other professionals to protect clients in divorce cases that involve claims to inheritance assets.
Individuals and families have several options for further protecting their inheritances from a divorce. Before or during the marriage, spouses can enter into a marital contract known as a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. The marital contract will clearly identify the intent for each spouse to retain their separate property, including an inheritance, in case of a divorce. Courts will generally follow the terms of a marital agreement when issuing a final divorce decree.
Our Bellevue divorce and inheritance attorneys could help families consider the value of entering a marital agreement to protect generational wealth from an ex-spouse. Estate planning can be another valuable method for protecting inheritance in a divorce. Parents can consider the benefits of trusts and other legal options for maintaining control over an heir’s future inheritance when dealing with a divorce.
A Bellevue divorce and inheritance lawyer at Twyford Law Office understands the complexity that your inheritance can bring to a divorce and your strong desire to protect that wealth for yourself or future generations. Our clients appreciate our firm’s ability to provide them with the advice and legal solutions that reflect their goals and values during a divorce.
Schedule a free consultation with us today to receive legal advice and guidance for navigating your high-asset divorce case.
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