San Jose Attorney Handling Complex Property Division
Division of property is a critical step in the divorce process. I am divorce lawyer Hugh Thomson, and I have more than 30 years of experience with all types of divorce cases. I now focus my practice on helping high net worth clients achieve fair, satisfying and expeditious property division and divorce settlements.
Call my office at 408-298-4000 or contact me online to schedule your consultation.
The Property Division Process
Property division is a three-step process:
- Characterization of property — in California there are two types of property — separate property that belongs to each spouse and the community property that is a result of the marriage. Each asset must be properly characterized and identified.
- Valuation of property — community assets must be valued. Some assets, including businesses, real property, retirement accounts, intellectual property, and personal property such as art or collectibles, can be difficult to value.
- Division of property — community assets must be divided; this division can happen through a negotiated settlement or by a court decree and may have tax consequences.
Because I have been practicing for more than 30 years, I have extensive experience at all three stages of the process. I use this experience, my legal knowledge and creativity to develop winning property division strategies for my clients. I also have developed a network of experts who are highly regarded in their fields. When you retain me, you will also have access to them.
Achieving the Right Property Settlement
I work closely with each client to determine the client's goals and needs. A number of additional elements must be considered, including the potential effect of taxation and potential asset transaction costs, as well as the client's personal preferences. For example, it may make economic sense to buy out the spousal support requirement with a property settlement that discounts future support payments at an appropriate rate.
Throughout the negotiation process, I will assert my client's rights and seek to protect my client's interests at all times. I realize that your future depends to a large degree on the work I do and will work to achieve the property settlement that is right for you. Practically speaking, in most cases a negotiated settlement provides the best and quickest resolution, but I am an aggressive litigator with extensive experience when negotiation fails to reach your goals.
For a consultation with The Law Offices of Hugh Thomson, call our office at 408-298-4000 or contact us online. Located in San Jose, my firm serves clients throughout Silicon Valley and areas of Northern California.
