Evaluating the Complexity of High-Asset Divorces
As you’re evaluating prospective Northern Virginia divorce attorneys, you’re probably worried about the potential complexity and scale of your legal challenges, particularly if you have substantial assets (or big liabilities), such as multiple properties, valuable antique and jewelry collections, and business partnerships.
However, odds are very high that the scope and scale of your divorce will pale in comparison to the legal battle between Oklahoma couple Harold and Sue Ann Hamm, who filed for divorce in March 2013. Oklahoma County Judge Haralson reportedly is on the verge of issuing a ruling in this $18 billion divorce case, per a report from News Oklahoma.
Background of the Hamm Divorce Case
Mr. Hamm currently owns approximately $14 billion in assets, much of which comes from his majority ownership in a company called Continental Resources, which he started in 1967. Thanks to the shale fracking boom of recent years, the company raked in a fortune in Montana and North Dakota.
Mr. Hamm met his wife in the 1980s. She had been working for the company as an executive and attorney. They tied the knot in 1988 without entering into a prenuptial agreement. During their marriage, Mr. Hamm acquired approximately $17.6 billion in assets; Mrs. Hamm wants half of that marital property.
Potential Impact of the Divorce Settlement
The previous highest divorce settlement belongs to Ann Murdoch, the ex-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who won $1.7 billion in her divorce. If Mrs. Hamm wins, analysts believe that Mr. Hamm will have to sell his company to pay for the ruling. In that sense, the ruling could have implications not just for the Hamms and their company but also for the economies of entire states like Montana, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.
Protecting Your Assets During Divorce
Even if your divorce does not send ripples through the market or affect the entire Virginia or Washington D.C. economy, you still have major concerns. You need sound strategic guidance to protect your assets, your children, and your future. Call the Northern Virginia divorce attorneys here at DiPietro Law Group, PLLC at (888) 530-4374 to schedule a consultation with us.
