Spotsylvania County Divorce Attorneys

Reliable Divorce Lawyers for Clients in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

The hurdles that come with ending your marriage can be exhausting, whether you have been served with papers or you have filed for divorce yourself. For those unfamiliar with Virginia law, the divorce process may seem overwhelming. However, by seeking legal representation from a Spotsylvania County, VA divorce lawyer, you can stay informed of your rights and negotiate from a position of strength.

At Meyer & Bowden, PLLC, we have decades of experience representing clients in contested divorces, serving as both skilled negotiators and aggressive litigators. We will work closely with you, fighting hard for a resolution that respects your goals and priorities.

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Marital and Separate Assets?

Determining which assets are marital and which are separate is important to ensure that property division is handled fairly. Marital assets generally include everything acquired by either spouse during the marriage, regardless of who paid for the property. This can encompass paychecks, retirement contributions, vehicles, real estate, and business interests. Separate assets, by contrast, consist of property owned prior to marriage, gifts and inheritances received by one spouse alone, and any awards for personal injuries that are not commingled with marital funds.

Telling the difference between marital and separate property often hinges on tracing and documentation. For instance, if you inherited a family home but used rental income from that home to pay joint household expenses, the court may find that portion of the inheritance has become marital property through commingling.

Growth in the value of a separate asset may be treated as marital if you or your spouse contributed effort—such as managing a business or overseeing real estate improvements—during the marriage. Working with a Spotsylvania County, Virginia divorce lawyer early can help you gather account statements, appraisals, and deeds to establish clear lines between separate and marital holdings.

Challenges in High Net Worth Divorces

When substantial assets are at stake, divorces can become intensely complex. High net worth couples often hold multiple investment accounts, business interests, equity in real estate developments, and sophisticated retirement vehicles. Valuing these assets often requires expert appraisals, forensic accounting, and an understanding of tax consequences. A misstep in valuation can lead to significant inequity down the road.

Another common challenge involves hidden or undervalued assets. A spouse facing an uneven award may attempt to conceal income through offshore accounts, transfers to family members, or by underreporting business revenue. Detecting these efforts often demands subpoenas, detailed forensic investigations, and close collaboration with financial professionals. Our firm can engage experts and make use of Virginia's discovery rules to compel full disclosure of all relevant financial information.

Taking Action Against Dissipation in Your Divorce

Dissipation refers to the intentional depletion or waste of marital assets by one spouse for a purpose unrelated to the marriage, such as gambling losses, luxury spending, or large gifts to third parties. Virginia law allows the court to compensate the non-dissipating spouse by adjusting the property division. Successful dissipation claims depend on proving that the spending occurred after separation or when one spouse knew divorce was imminent.

To build a dissipation claim, our firm can gather bank and credit card statements, trace cash withdrawals, and document luxury purchases. Testimony from accountants or other witnesses may be necessary to demonstrate the timing and intent behind certain transactions. When dissipation is established, the court can reduce the dissipating spouse's share of the marital estate to account for the wasted funds. Acting swiftly is crucial, since delays can make tracing dissipated assets more difficult as records disappear.

Contact a Spotsylvania County, VA Divorce Lawyer

At Meyer & Bowden, PLLC, we can provide you with valuable insights throughout your divorce. Call 703-722-8692 or contact our Spotsylvania County, Virginia divorce attorneys to discuss your case today.