08/29/2026
David Bliven, Westchester Divorce & Family Law Attorney - Bronx Divorce & Family Law Attorney: “The $5 Million Divorce Mistake: Focusing Only on What an Asset Is Worth Today” *** If you appreciated the information in this video, please share, “like,” subscribe & follow. Thank you! ***
“If your divorce involves millions of dollars in assets, dividing everything 50/50 on paper does NOT necessarily mean you’re getting an equal deal.”
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in high-net-worth divorces is focusing exclusively on what assets are worth today. Imagine a marital estate containing a $3 million investment account, a $3 million interest in a privately held company, and $3 million worth of real estate. At first glance, those assets may look interchangeable. They’re not. The investment account may be highly liquid. The business may be difficult to sell and its value could depend heavily upon future performance. The real estate may have substantial capital gains. So when you’re negotiating a high-asset divorce, You need to consider liquidity, taxes, risk, future appreciation, transaction costs and whether the valuation itself is reliable. The same problem arises with retirement accounts, stock options, restricted stock units, carried interests and other sophisticated investments. A settlement that looks equal on a spreadsheet can potentially produce dramatically different financial results five or ten years later. That’s why complex divorce negotiations should often involve more than lawyers. Depending upon the case, you may need a forensic accountant, business valuation expert, financial advisor or tax professional helping your attorney evaluate different settlement scenarios. And here’s another important point: Don’t become emotionally attached to a particular asset simply because you want to “win” it. Sometimes keeping the marital residence is financially smart. Sometimes it’s an expensive emotional victory. Sometimes keeping your company makes sense even if you surrender other valuable assets. And sometimes it doesn’t. The objective should be to emerge from your divorce with the strongest possible after-tax, risk-adjusted financial position — not simply the biggest number written next to your name on a settlement spreadsheet. If you’re facing a high-net-worth or complex divorce in New York, get a financial strategy in place before you negotiate away assets you may never be able to recover. I’m David Bliven, Bronx & Westchester divorce and family-law attorney. If significant assets are at stake, give my office a call.“
David Bliven, Westchester Divorce & Family Law Attorney - Bronx Div...
