Montgomery County Complex High Asset Divorce Attorney
Are You in Need a Montgomery County High Asset Divorce Lawyer?
Divorce is never simple, but when it involves high-value assets, it can feel overwhelming. High asset divorces may include:
- Multiple real estate properties
- Business ownership or partnership interests
- Retirement accounts and pensions
- Stock options, RSUs, and investment portfolios
- Valuable collections or luxury items
- Offshore or hidden assets
- Trusts or inheritance concerns
These assets are not only difficult to value, but they also present unique challenges in determining ownership, tax consequences, and future financial security. Without skilled legal counsel, you risk losing a lot.
At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, we understand what’s at stake, and we take precautions to protect your rights and your assets.
Why Choose Us Over Other High Asset Divorce Lawyers in Montgomery County?
Our firm is not a high-volume practice. We prioritize quality representation and offer individualized attention to every client. With Sheryl R. Rentz, you work directly with a seasoned family law attorney who knows how to manage difficult divorce cases.
When you sign on with us, you get these advantages:
- Over 30 years of legal experience – bringing wise insight to every case.
- Focused exclusively on divorce and family law matters – ensuring deep knowledge in a highly specialized area.
- Founded in 1992 and highly respected in the Montgomery County legal community – with a longstanding reputation for integrity and results.
- Recognized by Suburban Life Magazine as a Top Attorney – for excellence in legal service and client satisfaction.
- Rated Superb on Avvo – based on peer endorsements and strong client reviews.
- Member, Secretary, and Co-chair of the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) – actively contributing to the local legal profession.
- Compassionate yet assertive advocacy for every client – always prioritizing their rights and long-term well-being.
Don’t Let Valuable Assets Slip Through the Cracks
Call (610) 645-0100 now and get strategic guidance from an experienced Montgomery County divorce attorney.
Reasons to See an Experienced Montgomery County Divorce Attorney Right Away
In a complex divorce case, time is a critical factor. The sooner you retain legal counsel, the more sooner we can start:
- Preventing the dissipation or transfer of assets
- Conducting forensic accounting and asset tracing
- Advising you on financial disclosures
- Establishing temporary support or custody arrangements
- Protecting business and property interests before they’re at risk
Delaying legal counsel can result in mistakes, omissions, or overlooked claims. The earlier you act, the more control you retain over your financial future.
Understanding Marital vs. Nonmarital Property
A central issue in any divorce is distinguishing between marital and nonmarital (separate) property. In Pennsylvania:
- Marital property includes most assets acquired during the marriage, regardless of whose name is on the title.
- Nonmarital property may include assets owned before the marriage, inheritances, gifts to one spouse, or property excluded by a valid prenuptial agreement.
In high asset divorces, this distinction becomes especially complex. For example, if a premarital asset increased in value during the marriage due to joint efforts or marital funds, part of that value may be considered marital. Our firm ensures all assets are properly identified and valued so you receive your fair share.
What Is Equitable Distribution?
Pennsylvania follows the principle of equitable distribution, not equal distribution. That means the court aims to divide marital property fairly based on several factors, including:
- Length of the marriage
- Each spouse’s income and earning potential
- Contributions to the marriage (financial and non-financial)
- Future financial needs
- Whether one spouse contributed to the education or career of the other
In complex divorces, equitable distribution often requires advanced financial analysis, business valuation, and negotiation. Our firm is equipped to manage these complexities and protect your interests throughout the process.
Prenuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements are common in high asset marriages and can provide clarity and protection in the event of divorce. A properly drafted prenup can:
- Identify and protect separate property
- Outline how marital assets will be divided
- Address spousal support or alimony
- Protect business or inheritance interests
If you have a prenup in place, we will review its enforceability and advocate for your rights under its terms. If your spouse is challenging the agreement, we can defend its validity or identify flaws that may render it unenforceable.
Postnuptial Agreements
Postnuptial agreements serve a similar purpose but are signed after the marriage has begun. These agreements are useful for:
- Re-defining financial boundaries during the marriage
- Clarifying how new assets or business interests will be treated
- Avoiding conflict if circumstances change mid-marriage
We can help you negotiate, draft, or enforce a postnup that supports your goals and meets Pennsylvania legal standards.
Protect the Life You've Built
Schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can safeguard your financial future during divorce: (610) 645-0100
Confidentiality Agreements
Privacy is a major concern in high net worth divorces. Business owners, professionals, and public figures may worry about sensitive financial information becoming part of the public record.
Our firm can draft or enforce confidentiality agreements to:
- Protect sensitive business or personal financial data
- Prevent disclosure of proprietary information
- Ensure settlement terms remain private
We take every measure to safeguard your reputation and protect your personal and financial interests.
Spousal Support
Spousal support may be awarded during the separation period before a final divorce decree. It is designed to maintain the financial status quo until property division and final alimony decisions are made.
Eligibility and amount depend on:
- The income disparity between spouses
- Living expenses and needs
- Standard of living during the marriage
Our firm works to ensure support awards are fair and based on verified financial information.
Alimony
Alimony is financial support paid after the divorce is finalized. In high asset cases, alimony can be a significant issue, especially if one spouse gave up career opportunities or contributed to the other’s financial success.
Factors affecting alimony include:
- Duration of the marriage
- Each party’s earning capacity
- Age and health of both spouses
- Contributions to the household or other spouse’s career
- Marital misconduct, if relevant
Alimony may be awarded for a limited time or, in some cases, indefinitely. Whether you are seeking or contesting alimony, we build strong cases using financial evidence, expert reports, and strategic legal arguments.
How an Experienced High Asset Divorce Attorney Can Help
Navigating a high asset divorce without legal support is risky. An experienced Montgomery County complex divorce lawyer can:
- Conduct a thorough review of your financial situation
- Work with forensic accountants, valuation experts, and tax professionals
- Identify and trace marital versus nonmarital property
- Analyze business records and determine ownership interests
- Draft enforceable prenuptial, postnuptial, or confidentiality agreements
- Strategically negotiate or litigate spousal support and alimony
- Represent your interests in mediation, arbitration, or trial
- Advise you about stock option valuation and division
What Clients Are Saying About Us
I highly recommend Sheryl Rentz -Claudia (5-Star Google Review)
Sheryl represented me in a compassionate and professional manner. She was responsive and made herself available to me via phone and email—at times, outside of regular business hours. My divorce was complicated and, at times, contentious. Sheryl's high standards, attention to detail, and courtroom presence coupled with her adherence to professional and personal ethics were important contributors to the resolution of many issues. I highly recommend Sheryl Rentz.
Sheryl is amazing! -Sharon Robbins (5-Star Google Review)
Sheryl is amazing! She responds timely to emails, and [is] extremely responsive to phone calls and text messages. This was a painless and quick divorce process. I highly recommend her!
Speak With a Trusted High Asset Divorce Lawyer in Montgomery County
Our skilled litigators are capable of handling the most complex divorces involving multiple residences, vacation property, retirement packages, investment portfolios, luxury vehicles, art and antiques, and commercial property. We will thoroughly evaluate the various issues related to your divorce to help you avoid costly mistakes when dividing high-end assets.
Get started on a smoother divorce process today by calling the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C. at (610) 645-0100.
Complex Assets Divorce FAQs
What is a high asset divorce?
Typically, value and variety of the marital assets attained by the couple during marriage are extensive. They can include businesses, portfolios, retirement and pension plans, inheritance, stock options, timeshares and real estate. Due to the complex nature and significant worth of these assets, high asset divorces can be difficult affairs, and matters can get even more contentious when considerations of child support, alimony, relocation and other family law issues come into the equation.
How is equitable distribution determined when high assets are involved?
Pennsylvania's rule of equitable distribution does not enforce a 50/50 split of marital assets, but rather, each spouse is accorded a portion of marital assets based on his/her unique situation. For example, the spouse with sole or primary custody of children may receive an increased portion of marital assets.
How are cryptocurrency assets distributed in a divorce proceeding?
Cryptocurrency assets are designed to be kept secret, and they are often used to hide assets from tax authorities. But they are real assets with significant monetary value, and like any other type of asset, they must be distributed fairly during divorce proceedings. One thing to remember about cryptocurrencies is that they are highly volatile, constantly fluctuating in value.
You have three basic options when it comes to distributing cryptocurrencies:
- Splitting these assets and transferring half of their value to you
- Allowing your spouse to keep the cryptocurrency in exchange for assets of equal value
- Cashing out of the cryptocurrency account and splitting the proceeds.
How do high assets affect alimony and child support?
Spouses have financial obligations to each other and their children during and after the divorce process. Additionally, they have the right to expect a similar quality of life in divorce as in marriage. In most cases, the state calculates alimony and child support according to the guidelines established in the Pennsylvania Code. Considerations include the earning abilities of both spouses and the needs of the spouse asking for support.
Does the involvement of high assets impact child custody and relocation procedures?
Generally, no. The factors that influence child custody and relocation judgments are the same in a high asset divorce as they are in a regular divorce. As long as each spouse can provide for the basic needs of the child, the court does not take financial status and assets into account when making a decision. Rather, the court primarily focuses on factors that affect the well-being of the child, including the quality of the relationship between each parent and the child, past abusive conduct or criminal history and the condition of living quarters.
A custodial spouse may organize a change in residence of the child as long as all other parties with custodial rights receive notification of the proposal at an appropriate time, all parties consent to the relocation, and the proposal receives court approval.
Why do I need a lawyer with specific experience in complex divorces?
General divorce experience is not always enough in high asset cases. These divorces often involve business valuations, tax considerations, hidden asset discovery, and the interpretation of prenuptial agreements.
What happens if my spouse hides assets?
If you suspect hidden assets, our team can work with forensic accountants to uncover undisclosed accounts, offshore holdings, or transfers intended to shield property from division. Concealing assets during divorce is illegal and can lead to serious penalties.
How are businesses handled in high asset divorces?
Business ownership must be valued and analyzed to determine whether it’s marital property, nonmarital, or a mix of both. We collaborate with valuation experts to assess business worth and protect your financial interests—whether you’re retaining ownership or negotiating a buyout.
How long does a high-asset divorce take?
Due to the complexity of asset identification, valuation, and potential disputes, high-asset divorces often take longer than standard cases, sometimes lasting a year or more.
What happens to retirement accounts in a high-asset divorce?
Retirement assets such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions are often divided using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), and the process must comply with both federal and state regulations.
Meet Our Montgomery County High Asset Divorce Attorney
Sheryl R. Rentz
Sheryl R. Rentz is a trusted family law attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing clients in Montgomery County and throughout Pennsylvania. As the founder of the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., she focuses her practice on complex divorce, high-asset property division, child custody, and spousal support matters.
Whether advocating in court or negotiating discreet settlements, Sheryl R. Rentz provides high-level representation tailored to the goals and concerns of each client, protecting what matters most when everything is on the line.
Additional Information
- Life After Luxury: Preparing for Lifestyle Changes Following a High-Asset Divorce in Montgomery County
- Navigating Child Custody in High-Asset Divorces: What Montgomery County Parents Need to Know
- Crafting Effective Visitation Schedules for Busy Professionals in High-Asset Divorces
We know your problems are unique & special.
Call us, we will listen.
(610) 645-0100