Robert D. Paulbeck | Attorney At Law

Call Today 734-800-2699

Robert D. Paulbeck | Attorney At Law

Experienced Legal Counsel From A Local Law Firm

Dedicated Help With Dividing Property, Debt And Investments

One of the most important aspects of any divorce is how to go about dividing marital property. Whether you have a modest amount of assets or considerable wealth, it is important that you ensure your rights and your future are protected at the end of a marriage. At the law offices of Robert D. Paulbeck, Attorney at Law, our Trenton property division attorney can help guide you through this important process. We will help you work toward an agreement that is fair and will allow you to preserve an equitable amount of property.

If you are facing a divorce, it is important to protect your assets. Contact our Michigan family law lawyer online or call 734-800-2699 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your situation.

Property That Is Subject To Division

It is easy to think of property as something tangible, such as a home or a car. While these certainly fit the definition of property, they are not the only things that will be divided in a divorce. For example, investments and retirement accounts are also subject to division, along with any debts that were accumulated during the marriage. Whether or not any of these types of property will actually be divided between a couple depends on whether it meets the definition of marital property.

Marital property, simply put, is property that is acquired during the length of the marriage and will be subject to division. Separate property, on the other hand, is usually not subject to division and may include property acquired before the marriage, as well as any gifts or inheritances. Our Trenton investment division attorney will take a close look at your assets in order to determine whether certain types of property may or may not be subject to division.

Seeking An Equitable Distribution Of Marital Property

In Michigan, divorcing parties are entitled to an equitable share of the marital property. This is not necessarily a 50-50 split since certain assets such as the primary residence cannot be split down the middle. Instead, each party is entitled to start the next chapter of his or her life with property equaling the same value. Determining the value of a martial estate can be especially complicated, depending on how assets and debts were handled during a marriage. An experienced divorce attorney can make all the difference in making sure all of the assets included are accounted for such as:
  • Investment accounts
  • IRAs, Roth IRA, 401(k) and pension plans
  • Real estate investments
  • Shares from closely held businesses and stocks
Part of our focus is to understand how you and your spouse managed assets during your marriage. For example, if your estranged spouse made a significant amount of money professionally before getting married, you would be entitled to an equitable share of the money, if the money was commingled with the rest of the marital estate. We will review your financial records to understand what property needs to be distributed equitably as part of your divorce.
A key part of our focus will also be to understand the value of your marital property. If you owned a family business, our legal team will conduct a business valuation to calculate how much your business is worth. We offer a comprehensive approach to help ensure you obtain an equitable share of the marital property, whether you were the wage earner or depended on your spouse financially.

Ready To Represent Your Interests Inside Or Outside of Court

It is possible to reach a property division agreement outside of the courtroom through methods such as alternative dispute resolution. With 30 years of experience, you can count on the legal team at the law offices of Robert D. Paulbeck, Attorney at Law, to protect your interests either in negotiation or through traditional courtroom litigation.

Call For A Free Consultation With A Division Of Debt Attorney

When financial interests are on the line, emotions can quickly escalate. Contact our family law firm in Trenton, Michigan, to learn how we can protect what you have at stake without adding fire to a potentially contentious situation.

Reach us online or call 734-800-2699 for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Our law offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and we offer evening appointments as necessary.