Common Property Division Issues in a Maryland High-Asset Divorce

 Posted on May 17, 2025 in Property Division

Property division is a major element of any divorce and often a contentious process. However, in a high-asset divorce, the risk of disputes and issues regarding the division of assets and liabilities is significantly higher. With a sizable portfolio, spouses sometimes find it hard to compromise, and more complex property can be more challenging to divide. If you have concerns about divorce proceedings for an asset-heavy marriage, a Bowie, MD high-asset divorce attorney can help you address some of these issues to resolve disputes more comfortably.

Is Property Division More Complex in a Maryland High-Asset Divorce?

Maryland is an equitable distribution state, which means that all property categorized as marital property is subject to equitable division. According to Maryland law, marital property is anything acquired during the marriage, regardless of who paid or how you titled the assets. In a high-asset divorce, there is significantly more property to divide. Real estate, businesses, vehicles, retirement accounts, high-value collectibles, jewelry, investments, and more can be up for division. Sometimes, commingled separate property can complicate the process even further, and you may need to bring in financial experts to ensure a fair outcome.

What Can You Do if Your Spouse Hides Property During a Maryland High-Asset Divorce?

Hidden assets are more likely to be a problem in a high-asset divorce. Despite the full financial disclosure requirement in Maryland, a spouse may attempt to conceal an asset to avoid dividing it. Some common ways this is done include:

• Underreporting income

• Using a different name to create a bank account

• Inflating debt

• Transferring property to a family member temporarily

• Intentionally undervaluing real estate

• Placing cash into offshore accounts, making it harder to trace.

Hiding assets is illegal and can be uncovered during the discovery process or even after the divorce is finalized. The penalties are often steep.

What Happens to the Family Business During a High-Asset Divorce in Maryland?

Businesses are typically at least partially marital property in high-asset divorces, and dividing them is often highly complex. Sometimes, one spouse will buy out the other spouse's interest or give up their interest in exchange for a different asset. Businesses can also be sold to divide the proceeds, or spouses can choose to continue running them together. In most cases, a business valuation is necessary to determine what the business is worth before choosing the most appropriate approach to dividing it. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the valuation process and guide you on how you might want to proceed to protect your future.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Bowie, MD High-Asset Divorce Attorney

This is no end to the number of unique issues that can arise when dividing marital property in a high-asset Maryland divorce. At Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett, we have more than 50 years of experience fighting aggressively for our clients. Our Annapolis, MD property division lawyers never back down from a challenge and will protect your rights. Call 301-262-5500 today to schedule your free consultation.