Pittsburgh Property Distribution Lawyer
Divorces can be complicated. One of the most complex issues that arise in divorce proceedings concerns how the family’s assets will be divided between the divorcing parties. If the couple has not been together for very long and does not have very many assets, then equitable division may be less complicated. However, if the couple has been married for some time, and they possess various types of assets such as retirement accounts, investments, business ownership, real estate, as well as different types of debt, then property division can quickly become a very complex affair. The Pittsburgh property division attorneys at Bunde & Roberts, P.C., are here to help.
At the Pennsylvania family law firm Bunde & Roberts, we have decades of experience resolving the most complex and high-profile divorce matters. We understand the complex financial issues involved, as well as the personal emotions that arise in any divorce. We know the financial experts to retain when necessary to value assets subject to distribution, and we know the strongest legal arguments to make in order to protect the assets that matter the most to you. If you are facing a divorce in Pennsylvania, call the seasoned Pittsburgh property division lawyers at Bunde & Roberts to make sure that your rights and interests are protected.
Equitable Does Not Mean Equal–It Means Fair.
Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution jurisdiction. Pennsylvania Courts will not, by default, split the couple’s marital property in half. Instead, they will undertake an analysis to determine the fairest and most appropriate distribution of the couple’s assets and liabilities. The Court will consider a list of factors found in the Pennsylvania divorce code to compare the parties and determine how to distribute the “marital estate.”
What is Marital Property?
The marital estate is made of marital property and marital liabilities. Marital property and marital liabilities are generally property and debts acquired between the date of marriage and the date of separation, regardless of whose name is on them. Property owned before the marriage or gifted to or inherited by only one of the parties during the marriage is not marital property, but an increase in the value of this property may be marital. Whether an asset or the increase in value of an asset during the marriage is marital or separate property is often a contested issue.
Determining what is and what is not marital property or marital debt often becomes a complicated exercise. Your experienced Pittsburgh property division attorneys will help you prepare for this process and protect your rights and assets throughout.
Experience Handling the Most Complex, High-Value Pittsburgh Divorces
The property division attorneys at Bunde & Roberts will work with you from day one of your divorce proceeding to ensure that your finances and your rights are zealously guarded throughout your divorce proceeding.
The beginning stage of a divorce proceeding is usually a discovery period during which both sides collect information necessary for negotiation or trial. Both parties have the right to collect financial and other information through the use of various tools, including interrogatories, document requests, depositions, requests for inspection of property and tangible things, and requests for admissions. In most cases, each side will be asked to produce documents and answer written and oral questions.
At Bunde & Roberts, our clients’ divorces regularly include professional practices and other business interests. Our clients often have retirement accounts, pension plans, and various other types of intangible assets. These may be marital assets that must be valued and distributed as a part of the equitable distribution process. Our attorneys provide creative strategies for handling the valuation and distribution of these types of assets, working to protect our clients’ most valued assets.
Often, expert testimony will be required to identify and value complex assets. We have a variety of experts that we frequently retain on behalf of our clients to assist with the property division process. These experts may include forensic accountants and other financial experts, as well as various types of real estate and personal property appraisers.
Get Help from our Seasoned Pittsburgh Property Division Lawyers
If you are dealing with the equitable division of property, child support, or other family law matters in Pennsylvania, contact the dedicated and effective Pittsburgh property division attorneys at Bunde & Roberts, P.C., for advice and representation. Call our Pittsburgh family law office today at 412-391-4330 for a consultation.
