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A Smart, Effective Approach To Asset Division In Divorce

When you are grieving the end of your marriage, determining what happens to your “stuff” is likely to feel like a low priority. But how your assets are divided will have a significant impact on your financial security, right now and for years to come. Therefore, it is important to consider these matters carefully and make decisions that will benefit your future.

Thankfully, hiring the right attorney makes the asset division process easier and less stressful. At The Law Office of Vincent Mattioli, PLC, we take the time to get to know you, understand your needs and goals and advocate for the outcomes that serve your best interests and the interests of your children.

How Property Division Works In Arizona

Arizona is among a handful of states that uses the “community property” model of asset division. Simply put, this means that any assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage are considered jointly owned and are subject to division in a divorce. It also applies to the appreciation of assets during the marriage (like contributions to retirement accounts, for instance).

Our first priority is to determine if there are assets that need to be reclassified as separate, rather than marital, property. If so, we can petition the court to exclude them from the marital estate.

Guiding You Through Simple Or Complex Asset Division

Divorces involving significant and diverse assets tend to be more complicated than standard. But our attorney, Vince Mattioli, has the skill and experience necessary to help you reach a fair division of assets, no matter how complex your marital estate may be. Examples of complex assets include:

  • Real estate (especially second homes and vacation properties)
  • Financial investment portfolios
  • Vehicles
  • Retirement accounts
  • A small business
  • Personal collections

Our firm is ready to help you correctly value and classify assets, protect those that are most important to you and divide the marital estate fairly. If your top priorities are protecting your business and your valuable personal collection, for instance, we will help you fairly appraise the value of both, determine your spouse’s share and negotiate a trade for other assets of the same value.

Looking Beyond Face Value

Ensuring an equal division of assets requires an understanding that assets aren’t always worth their face value. Say, for instance, that you and your spouse own a home worth $400,000. Your share would be about $200,000 at face value, but that doesn’t factor in realtor fees, inspection fees and other expenses.

Additionally, certain assets will greatly increase or decrease in value over time. Therefore, we help you account for those changes during the negotiation process.

Discuss Your Legal Needs With An Attorney For Free

From our offices in Scottsdale and Casa Grande, Arizona, The Law Office of Vincent Mattioli, PLC, serves clients throughout the surrounding areas. For a free consultation with experienced family law attorney Vince Mattioli, call us at 480-485-8158 or send us an email.