Australian Family Lawyers

Typically a high-net-worth divorce is where the net worth of the couple is over $5 million, including the family home, and the couple earns over $250,000 per year. We have however extensive experience in matters involving hundreds of millions.

A high-net-worth case does tend to take longer to resolve than your typical divorce settlement, both in and out of court. This is usually due to the length of time it takes to identify and value the asset pool.
Our team can help you get temporary orders put in place that can manage some of the issues, such as spousal support or child custody

Many high-net-worth divorces are quite public. This is particularly true for public figures or celebrities, or people that are very wealthy. Section 121 of the Family Law Act prohibits the publication of any divorce proceedings where the parties are identifiable.

Property settlements follow the same process whether individuals are HNWIs or not. Most separating couples will typically split their assets upon separating. If the parties can’t agree on how to split the assets, they’ll first attend mediation or another form or alternative dispute resolution to try to come to an agreement. If that doesn’t work, the Family Court can work out a property settlement on behalf of the parties.

More HNW divorces will involve the Court system. This is due to the complexity in identifying and valuing the property and assets in these cases. However, once the property is identified and valued, the process of marital property settlements remains the same.

1. Identify and value the marital property.
2. Assess the contributions – both financial and non-financial – of each party.
3. Make a future needs adjustment, as necessary.
4. Negotiate and attend mediation, as necessary.
5. Finalise the agreement, or make consent orders, and divide the property.

There is no rigid formula for how a property settlement is decided. Every case is decided on its own merits.