When you’re getting a divorce and have a high net worth, it’s important to avoid making certain common mistakes. Trying to hide assets, not getting a professional valuation of assets, spending too much money, not protecting your mental health, and not hiring a divorce lawyer are some of the biggest mistakes people make during high net worth divorces. By avoiding these mistakes, you can make the process easier on yourself and ensure that you come out of the divorce with what is rightfully yours.

If you’re in need of an experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney who has experience helping high net worth clients, contact Ohiku Law Office today.

Avoid these Common Divorce Mistakes: 

Hiding Assets

Hiding assets is one of the most common mistakes people make during a high net worth divorce. If you try to hide assets, your spouse and/or the courts will likely find out and it will only make the divorce more difficult. You could also face fines and punishment for hiding assets during divorce. The best thing you can do during the process of divorce is to be honest and open. This will make the process go much more quickly and allow you the peace of mind of knowing you are doing the right thing.

If you’re concerned about certain assets, a divorce attorney can help you create a plan.

Neglecting a Professional Valuation of Assets

Not getting a professional valuation of your assets is another common mistake. You need to know what your assets are worth so you and/or the courts can determine how to divide them fairly. You may also be surprised at the value of your assets, so it’s important to have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of what you own so you know how to proceed.

If you’re wondering how to get a professional valuation of your assets, an experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney can help you identify and hire a professional who can help with this process.

Spending Too Much Money

Spending too much money during the divorce process is also a mistake. Many people try to spend as much money as possible in order to spite their ex, but this usually backfires. Not only will you end up going into debt, but it will also make it harder to divide your assets fairly.

Instead, the best thing you can do during divorce in regards to spending is to tread carefully. Keep a record of your expenditures and avoid making large or lavish purchases until the divorce is complete. Working with a financial advisor is a good idea during this time, particularly if you have significant assets to keep track of.

Forgetting to Protect Your Mental Health

Protecting your mental health is important during any divorce, but it’s especially important during a high net worth divorce. This type of divorce can be very stressful, so make sure you take care of yourself.

Strategies for protecting your mental health during this often stressful time include: talking to a licensed therapist or counselor; getting enough exercise; eating a balanced and nutritious diet; getting enough quality sleep; and spending time with friends and family. If you have children, it’s also important to encourage them to practice these healthy habits as well, since divorce can be stressful for them, too.

Not Hiring a Divorce Lawyer

Many people try to handle a high net worth divorce on their own, but this is a mistake. A divorce lawyer can help you protect your assets and ensure that you get what you deserve. A divorce attorney can also help you ensure you don’t make costly mistakes that will slow down the process or prevent you from reaching your goals. Finally, the right divorce attorney has experience in all aspects of divorce, from arbitration to mediation to contested divorce to child custody and placement.

If you are considering a high net worth divorce in Wisconsin, it is important to avoid making common mistakes. Trying to hide assets, not getting a professional valuation of assets, spending too much money, not protecting your mental health, and not hiring a divorce lawyer are all mistakes that can cost you time and money during your divorce. By hiring a Milwaukee divorce attorney with experience helping high net worth clients, you can protect yourself and ensure that your divorce goes as smoothly as possible. If you’re getting a divorce and live in Milwaukee or a nearby community, contact Ohiku Law Office today. Our experienced Milwaukee divorce attorneys can help you through every step of the process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

When it comes to divorce, having an excellent Milwaukee divorce attorney on your side is key. At the Ohiku Law Office, we pride ourselves on providing compassionate, client-centered care combined with outstanding legal expertise. Our team of attorneys, led by Odalo J. Ohiku, has years of experience helping high net worth clients just like you navigate the complex journey of divorce.

We understand that divorce can be extremely difficult for you and your family, and we are here to help you every step of the way. We do everything we can to ensure you, your family, and your assets are protected during divorce. Contact us today with questions and keep reading to learn more about how the Ohiku Law team can support you and your family.

The Three Cs of Exceptional Client Care :

Compassion

Each and every team member at Ohiku Law understands that divorce is a difficult journey for you and your family. Divorce is so much more than just a legal process; it means big changes for your family and often comes with a lot of emotions, tears, stress, and anxiety for everyone involved.

At Ohiku Law, our focus is on providing excellent legal support that comes from a place of compassion for the difficulties our clients are experiencing. Divorce is always tough, and divorce among high net worth individuals can become even tougher. We know there are days you may not be able to process a lot of complex legal jargon and information, or may need a little extra time to take care of your family.

The team at Ohiku Law is here to support you in whatever way makes the most sense for you and your family. We offer expert dispute resolution services, advice on child custody and placement, and more. We can provide a listening ear, answer questions, and offer advice on helping your family navigate divorce. Our team will provide the compassion and understanding you need during this difficult time. Learn more about our Milwaukee divorce attorney services.

Collaboration

At the end of the day, high net worth divorce is truly a collaboration between multiple parties – spouses, children, attorneys, judges, and others. We all win when everyone comes to the table willing to peacefully and openly collaborate on solutions. Divorce comes with a lot of emotions and stress, factors that can easily cause contention and conflict. The best attorneys keep their cool in the face of pressure and help to balance competing emotions to focus on the goals of the client. We know things can get heated; we are here to help move the process forward in a calm, collaborative way.

At the Ohiku Law Office, we know a spirit of collaboration makes the divorce process run much more smoothly. We will work with all parties involved to ensure that everyone’s needs are met, including those of your children. Learn more about our child custody and placement services and our dispute resolution strategies.

Client-Centered Care

The client comes first at Ohiku Law. Our focus is on you and your needs. We will work with you to create a divorce plan that meets your unique needs and objectives and guide you every step of the way.  The best Milwaukee divorce attorney will be a true partner and advocate for you; we want to help you achieve the best possible outcome for yourself and your family.

The attorneys at Ohiku Law have years of experience helping high net worth individuals navigate the complex journey of divorce. We understand that each client’s case is unique and requires a tailored approach. Our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you are kept informed and feel confident in our ability to represent your interests effectively.

If you are considering divorce, or have already started the process, contact the Ohiku Law Office today. We can help you navigate this complex journey and provide the exceptional legal expertise and client care you need during this difficult time. Call us at (414) 287-0088 or visit our website to schedule a consultation. Proudly offering Milwaukee divorce attorney services, child custody and placement, dispute resolution, and more.

When getting a divorce in Wisconsin, you will need to understand the different types of alimony that are available to you. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is financial assistance that one spouse provides to the other spouse after a divorce. In this blog post, we will discuss the four types of alimony that are available in Wisconsin: temporary support, permanent support, lump-sum support, and reimbursement support. We will provide an overview of each type of alimony and explain how it works. If you are getting divorced in Wisconsin, it is important to understand these four types of alimony so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

At The Ohiku Law Office, expert Divorce Attorney Odalo Ohiku  has over 15 years experience guiding clients through the divorce process. He has extensive experience with the most sensitive topics around divorce, including child custody and placement, dispute resolution strategies, alimony, and more. Contact The Ohiku Law Office today to schedule a consultation to discuss your specific situation and find out which type of alimony is best for you.

What is Alimony?

Alimony is monetary support paid by one spouse to another after divorce. Alimony is not awarded in all divorce cases, and is only awarded after careful consideration of many factors by a divorce court judge. In Wisconsin, there are four types of alimony that can be awarded: temporary support, permanent support, lump-sum support, and reimbursement support. Let’s take a closer look at each type of alimony.

Temporary Support

Temporary support is financial assistance that is paid during the divorce proceedings. This type of alimony is designed to help the spouse who is less financially stable get by until a final decision is made about spousal support. Temporary support can be awarded for a set period of time or it can be granted on an indefinite basis. The amount of temporary support that is awarded will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

Permanent Support

Permanent support is financial assistance that is paid after the divorce proceedings have ended. This type of alimony is designed to help the spouse who is less financially stable on a permanent basis. Permanent support can be awarded for a set period of time or it can be granted on an indefinite basis. The amount of permanent support that is awarded will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

Lump-sum Support

Lump-sum support is a one-time payment that is made to the spouse who is less financially stable. This type of alimony is designed to help the spouse with a one-time need, such as the purchase of a new home or the payment of legal fees. Lump-sum support can be paid in addition to other types of alimony or it can be paid instead of other types of alimony. The amount of lump-sum support that is awarded will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

Reimbursement Support

Reimbursement support is financial assistance that is paid to the spouse who has contributed to the other spouse’s education or training. This type of alimony is designed to reimburse the contributing spouse for their expenses. Reimbursement support can be awarded for a set period of time or it can be granted on an indefinite basis. The amount of reimbursement support that is awarded will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

If you are getting divorced in Wisconsin, it is important to understand these four types of alimony so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family. Speak with a Milwaukee divorce lawyer like Odalo Ohiku to learn more about your options and get advice on which type of alimony is best for you.

Thanks for reading! We hope this blog post was helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the experts at The Ohiku Law Office. We would be happy to help.

In almost all circumstances, divorce creates stress. When a divorce is contested, it can be even more stressful for everyone involved. However, contested divorce can also be a tool used to ensure the divorce is settled fairly for both parties. If you’re considering divorce and anticipate disagreements with your spouse, it is highly likely your divorce will be contested.

Read on to learn more about contested divorce and how you can lessen your stress throughout the process. For questions or to discuss your particular situation, contact experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney Odalo Ohiku at The Ohiku Law Offices in Milwaukee.

Defining Contested Divorce

A divorce is considered contested when the involved parties disagree on one or more of the issues at hand. A divorce could be contested because only one party wants the divorce while the other does not. A contested divorce may also happen when the involved parties disagree on child custody arrangements, child support and placement, alimony, how to split up assets, or another major issue.

An uncontested divorce is when both parties agree on most or all major issues, are willing to work together, and make the decision to divorce collaboratively. This is a far less common scenario than contested divorce.

Contested Divorce Scenario: Only One Party Wants a Divorce

In the State of Wisconsin, only one spouse needs to file for divorce with the justification that the marriage is “irretrievably broken” for a divorce to proceed. The other spouse then needs to respond to the divorce filing within 20 days or the court may decide to proceed with a default divorce in which the filing party gets everything they requested. The only reason the divorce process can be stopped is if both spouses agree to do so.

A scenario in which only one party wants a divorce is considered a contested divorce.

The Upside and Downside of Contested Divorce

It may be hard to imagine an upside to contested divorce, but it can be an important tool in ensuring the outcome of a divorce is fair to all parties involved. When spouses disagree on critical issues like child placement, child custody, and alimony, their divorce becomes contested and goes in front of a judge for litigation. This means an objective, experienced third party (the judge) will have the final word on the outcome of these important decisions after weighing what is fair and in the best interest of all parties.

A contested divorce that goes in front of a judge for litigation is also important in a situation in which one spouse is manipulative, abusive, or tries to impede the divorce process from coming to a fair conclusion. The judge can take all information into account and render a judgement that is legally binding and fair to both parties despite the efforts of one to impede the process.

Contested divorces do have their downsides. Usually, a contested divorce takes significantly longer than an uncontested divorce. At minimum, a contested divorce will take four months, though some can take years. The quicker the spouses can come to an agreement or compromise on all issues, the quicker the divorce process will conclude. Because they take longer, contested divorces are generally more costly and stressful.

Contested Divorce Scenario: Spouses Agree on Everything Except One Issue

A divorce is considered contested even if spouses agree on all major issues but one. Divorce can become an extremely complex process for people with children and/or considerable assets to be divided. Child custody, placement, and support are highly emotional and nuanced issues that can spur major disagreement and cause a divorce to become contested so it can be litigated in court. Contestation of a divorce is also necessary when parties disagree on how to divide assets; even though Wisconsin is a marital property state, meaning assets are divided evenly between divorcing spouses; there is a lot of grey area. Intervention by a divorce court can lead to a fairer settlement when one or both parties disagree on how assets should be divided.

The Best Tool for Navigating Contested Divorce

Divorce isn’t easy, and a contested divorce can quickly become overwhelming. If you’re facing a contested divorce, the best thing you can do for yourself, your spouse, your children, and your assets is to hire an experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney. An attorney will be able to assess your particular situation, answer questions, provide expert guidance, communicate with the courts and judges, assist with paperwork, and help you avoid common roadblocks and mistakes.

Divorce doesn’t just affect the spouses. Hiring an attorney with the knowledge and compassion to handle delicate divorce cases involving children is critical. Attorney Odalo Ohiku of The Ohiku Law Offices of Milwaukee has extensive experience with child custody and placement and alternative dispute resolution so you only need to make one call.

For questions about contested divorce or to get started working with one of Wisconsin’s premiere divorce attorneys, contact The Ohiku Law Offices today.

High net worth couples considering divorce have many things to consider along their journey. While the divorce process looks similar for couples with lower net worth and fewer assets, high net worth couples will face certain complexities that others may not. Child custody, alimony, prenuptial agreements, and division of assets are just some of the issues at play when a couple with considerable assets decides to divorce.

The following article lays out some details about how high net worth divorce may differ from the divorce of a lower net worth couple. Each divorce is unique, so for details and added knowledge about your specific situation, contact expert Milwaukee Divorce Attorney Odalo J. Ohiku of The Ohiku Law Office today.

High Net Worth Divorce & Child Custody and Placement

In Wisconsin, child custody and placement can be decided by the parents through mediation or by court order — but is always determined with the best interests of the child in mind. Commonly, both parents have joint custody as long as both are deemed to be fit and proper persons by the court, meaning each has an equal share in decision-making when it comes to the child.

Placement refers to the amount of time a child or children spend in the care of one or both parents. While the children are placed in the care of one parent, that parent retains the right to make routine daily decisions about the child’s care. When a court determines a placement schedule, as long as they deem both parents fit to be around the children, they outline an arrangement that allows the child regular, meaningful periods of interaction with both parents.

Child support is paid by one parent when the placement arrangement dictates that the child spends less than 25% of their time, or 92 nights per year, with that parent. The amount of child support is set as a percentage of that parent’s income – 17% for one child. This is where high net worth couples’ experience may differ from others’. Those with higher income will pay a larger sum in child support as a result of this calculation, which is logical given that the child in question may have been used to a lifestyle commensurate with living with parents who make a higher income.

Child custody, placement, and child support are highly complex and each situation is unique. For questions, contact Attorney Odalo Ohiku today.

Prenuptial Agreements & High Net Worth Divorce

In general, it is more common for a high net worth couple to have a prenuptial agreement, as each party may bring more wealth and assets to the marriage and are interested in protecting those assets in the event of a divorce. As long as a court determines a prenuptial agreement to be valid, the arrangement set forth by this document may impact processes such as the payment of alimony and division of assets — major considerations for high net worth couples.

Division of Assets & High Net Worth Divorce

High net worth couples often have a complex portfolio of assets that will need to be distributed as part of the divorce process. Wisconsin is a marital property (or community property) state, meaning all income and assets procured during the course of a marriage are divided equally between spouses in the event of a divorce – with some caveats. However, that doesn’t mean each asset is easy to split down the middle, and high net worth couples are more likely to have more assets that are not easily split – like multiple homes, vehicles, businesses, or antiques. If the couple cannot agree on how their assets should be divided through a mediation or arbitration process, the court will have to intervene and the process can take a long time.

Divorce is always complex, and divorce between high net worth individuals is even more so. Attorney Odalo J. Ohiku is the greater Milwaukee divorce attorney more high net worth couples turn to. He also has expertise in mediation, arbitration, child custody and placement, and more. Call The Ohiku Law Office today with questions or to schedule your appointment.