How to Tackle a High-Asset Divorce

How to Tackle a High-Asset Divorce

Divorces often involve a lot of conflicts. This is especially true when a lot of valuable assets are involved. Celebrities, musicians, athletes, and other wealthy people tend to have a lot of drama when they divorce because of all the money, real estate, luxury cars, and other assets. It is not uncommon for these divorces to take years to finalize. 

The world was shocked when professional football player Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen announced their divorce in October 2022. But not only did the former couple announce the split, but they also already had everything finalized. They had everyone fooled. How did these celebrities get everything done so quickly and out of the public eye?

The approach that Brady and Bündchen took to get divorced was perfectly executed. It was strategically handled outside of the courtroom like all divorces should be, especially when there are children involved. 

The couple filed for divorce in Florida, but no matter what state you live in, you can finalize your divorce the same way with the right game plan in place. If a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars can divorce amicably, you can too. Here are some takeaways from the Brady-Bündchen divorce and how you can apply them to your divorce to make things easier for all involved. 

Start Off With a Plan

Brady and Bündchen got married in 2009. At the time they married, they each had a prenuptial agreement in place to protect their premarital assets as well as their business entities. These were likely thorough agreements, given that everything was in place considering the hundreds of millions of dollars the couple amassed together during their 13-year marriage. The NFL quarterback was worth $250 million, while the Brazilian supermodel —the highest-paid supermodel for 14 consecutive years — was worth a whopping $400 million. 

Their only shared assets were their properties. The couple owned real estate in Florida, California, New York, and Puerto Rico. All homes were divided between the two with help from a mediator. 

Bündchen allegedly updated her prenuptial agreement in June, which is legal. In fact, it is advised that couples revisit their prenups from time to time to ensure that everything is current.

Anyone can benefit from a prenuptial agreement. In fact, more and more millennials are drafting them before marriage. If you are bringing any assets into a marriage, you want to be sure to protect yourself.

Use Mediation

The reason why Brady and Bündchen were able to divorce so privately was that they used mediation. Even though the couple was no stranger to being in the news, they were able to get the details of their divorce hammered out privately. Mediation is helpful in that regard. Mediation is done privately, whereas litigation makes everything public. Court cases are public proceedings in which every detail can be made known. This can be risky, which is why celebrities and high-profile people avoid it at all costs. Even if you are just an average person with an average bank account, mediation can be helpful for you, as well. Do you want your entire financial history and other personal details laid out in court documents for everyone to see?

Brady and Bündchen were able to settle both their financial matters and their child custody arrangements with mediation, resulting in a cordial and streamlined settlement. Some prenups  even enforce mediation in a divorce, which may have been the case. With the courts extremely backlogged, mediation has become an appealing strategy for those going through a divorce. 

If you are considering a divorce, you may want to choose mediation too. The court is slower and much more expensive. Mediation can save you a lot of time and money and help you get details hammered out much more quickly. Plus, you and your spouse can come to your own agreements rather than having a judge decide. 

Put the Children First

Brady and Bündchen have two children together — a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. Brady also has a 15-year-old son from a previous relationship. Brady and Bündchen may have their differences, but on the plus side, they are able to put them aside for the sake of their children. 

Their children are old enough to know about the negativity surrounding divorce. Instead of dragging the kids through court, the couple settled their co-parenting arrangement via mediation, agreeing on joint custody. Brady and Bündchen were able to reduce the burden and strain on their children, who were likely already coping with the stress of divorce. By cooperating through mediation, Brady and Bündchen helped shield the kids from court appearances and the public eye.

If you have kids, make sure you are thinking about them in your divorce. Many parents use their kids as pawns and bargaining tools, which is never a good idea. It causes more stress and anxiety among children. Instead, focus on things that will alleviate the stress and cause as little disruption to your kids as possible. 

Seek Legal Help

Divorces are never easy, especially when celebrities with a high net worth decide to call it quits. However, with the right legal documents in place and a little maturity, things can go smoothly.

Get help with your divorce issues. Broward County divorce attorney Scott J. Stadler can assess your situation and offer solid advice, no matter your net worth. Schedule a consultation to get started. Call (954) 346-6464 or fill out the online form