Massachusetts Legal Blog

The Possibility for an Appeal After a High Net Asset Divorce

There’s really no such thing as planning ahead of time for a divorce. Whether it’s the culmination of an incompatible marriage, the discovery of infidelity, or a life-changing event that brings it to the forefront, you didn’t enter into marriage expecting you’d need to learn anything about divorce law.

When the time does arrive, it’s important to remind yourself of two things: first, it’s not your fault. Second, you’re not alone. Even after struggling through the process of a divorce, things aren’t necessarily over. So, what do you do if you have a high net worth and believe the divorce proceedings went unfairly?

Divorce Law in Massachusetts

The first thing you should understand about Massachusetts family law is that it’s possible to file an appeal on divorce proceedings. However, actually having that appeal approved and expecting an appellate court to overturn to the ruling is uncommon. This is where an experienced divorce attorney comes in handy.

The Difficulty of Any Divorce Appeal

Under divorce law, getting an appeal relies primarily on proving that an error occurred during the divorce proceedings. In a high net worth case, finding this sort of error may be easier than your standard divorce, but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple process. Fortunately, the court does take into consideration that large assets, companies, or even stock portfolios can be misevaluated. So, what if immediately following the divorce you find that an asset valuation was considerably undervalued?

A High Net Worth Divorce Appeal

Being a specialized area of family law, divorce can already be tricky. An experienced divorce attorney should understand the nuances of this and look to focus on the mistaken valuation of the asset or assets in question. Once this has been identified, you will file a Notice of Appeal with the court, which would identify the asset(s) in question, and any errors that may have been made during the divorce proceedings.

What Can Be Considered

When your appeal is filed, it’s important to remember that any of your assets as a married couple can be considered in the appeal. This includes assets such as real estate, grants, investment accounts, retirement funds, annuities, pensions, bank accounts, and businesses. Since many of these assets can fluctuate in value, if you find one has significantly changed during or after the divorce and was not properly accounted for, an appeal may be the best way to make things right.

Your Massachusetts Divorce Attorney

When it comes to Massachusetts divorce law, finding the best outcome for your situation can be tough. No one gets married planning on a divorce, but when it goes in that direction, it’s important you pursue what is best for the both of you. If you have a high net worth, it is often difficult to ensure things are distributed fairly, especially if there’s a dispute about who contributed to accruing those assets. If you are looking for an experienced divorce attorney, you need to remember that just because a divorce is filed, that doesn’t mean life as you know it is over. If you are unhappy with the outcome of your divorce proceedings, don’t settle for them. Pick up the phone and call the dedicated Massachusetts divorce attorneys at Shapiro Law Group at 339-298-2300.

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