Business Interests

When one or both spouses own an interest in a business, accurate valuation is critical. Business valuation involves assessing goodwill, income, assets, liabilities, and marketability, and the methodology chosen can significantly affect the outcome. Ms. Wood works with qualified business valuation experts to ensure the valuation is accurate and defensible.

Retirement and Pension Accounts

Retirement accounts accumulated during a marriage are generally marital property, but dividing them requires careful attention to tax consequences and, in many cases, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Ashley Wood ensures retirement assets are identified, valued, and divided in a way that protects your long-term financial security.

Real Property Holdings

The family home is often the most significant asset in a divorce, but real property holdings may also include investment properties, vacation homes, and undeveloped land. Each requires individual attention to valuation, encumbrances, tax basis, and the practical question of whether to sell, retain, or transfer.

Investment Portfolios

Brokerage accounts, stock portfolios, and other investment holdings require analysis of not just current value but tax basis, unrealized gains, and the implications of different division strategies. Ashley ensures investment assets are divided with an eye toward their after-tax value, not just their face value.

Stock Options and Deferred Compensation

Unvested stock options, restricted stock units, deferred compensation plans, and bonuses earned during the marriage may constitute marital property even if not yet received. Identifying, valuing, and dividing these assets requires technical analysis and careful drafting of the settlement terms.

Hidden or Dissipated Assets

In some cases, one spouse may attempt to conceal, undervalue, or dissipate marital assets in anticipation of divorce. Ashley works with forensic accountants where warranted to ensure the full marital estate is accounted for before any division is agreed upon or ordered.

Asset Identification

The first step is establishing a complete picture of the marital estate. Ms. Wood works with you to identify all assets and liabilities, including those that may not be immediately obvious, and determines which are marital property subject to division and which are separate property belonging to one spouse.

Discovery and Disclosure

Both parties are required to provide full financial disclosure. Ashley Wood uses the discovery process to ensure complete and accurate disclosure from the other side, including requests for documents, interrogatories, and where necessary, depositions of relevant parties or experts.

Valuation

Assets that do not have a clear market value, including businesses, professional practices, and certain investments, require formal valuation by qualified experts. Ashley coordinates with appraisers, business valuators, and financial analysts to ensure accurate, defensible valuations for every complex asset in the estate.

Division Strategy

With a complete picture of the marital estate in hand, Ashley develops a division strategy designed to achieve an equitable outcome that reflects your priorities, whether that means retaining the family home, protecting a business interest, or maximizing the after-tax value of your settlement.

Negotiation or Litigation

Ms. Wood negotiates from a position of thorough preparation, pursuing the most favorable resolution available through settlement. Where agreement cannot be reached, she is prepared to present the case fully and effectively before the court, supported by expert testimony and well-documented evidence.

Final Decree and Implementation

Once a division is agreed upon or ordered, Ashley ensures the decree is drafted with the precision that complex assets require, including QDROs for retirement accounts, specific transfer instructions, and tax provisions, and that implementation is carried out correctly.