Filing for divorce without a clear understanding of your assets, liabilities, and legal rights could lead to mistakes. If you are considering divorce, certain things should not be overlooked, and planning ahead may protect both your wealth and your peace of mind. Pre-filing considerations for high-asset divorces in Oakville demand careful financial planning, strategic timing, and a clear understanding of your rights.
At The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm, we help our clients navigate the divorce process even before the paperwork is filed. Our team of divorce lawyers brings a personalized approach to every case and focuses on the details so your future is protected.
Before filing for divorce in Oakville, you should consider your entire financial situation, especially if large assets are at stake. In Ontario, the Family Law Act requires each spouse to disclose their assets, debts, and income on the “Family Law Valuation Date,” which is the date of separation.
In high-net-worth divorces, this means gathering detailed documentation. For example, real estate holdings—including the matrimonial home and investment properties—may require you to gather property deeds and titles, recent appraisals, mortgage statements, and line of credit balances. For corporate shares and business interests, you may need to provide:
Gathering these documents before filing for divorce helps ensure that nothing is missed and provides a lawyer with the transparency required for a fair outcome.
If you and your spouse have investment portfolios and stock options, you may also need to gather brokerage account statements, stock option agreements, and cryptocurrency statements. If there are Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSPs), pensions, or other retirement accounts, you may need to collect RRSP and Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) statements, pension benefit statements, and various account summaries. For trusts and inheritances, you may need to request trust deeds or declarations of trust, documentation showing inheritance amounts and dates, and records showing whether the funds were co-mingled.
While a prenup or postnup marriage agreement may already be in place, some spouses may wish to negotiate a separation agreement before filing for divorce. These could help minimize conflict and maintain stability throughout the process. When children or shared businesses are involved, a temporary or permanent separation agreement may be particularly useful. Our team could help you prepare:
If these high-asset issues and other considerations are agreed upon before filing for divorce, it may reduce the likelihood of drawn-out litigation in Oakville.
At The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm, we know that decisions made before filing could shape the outcome of your divorce. We offer discreet, strategic guidance tailored to the unique financial and emotional challenges of high-asset separation. From organizing complex financial disclosures to protecting your privacy and long-term interests, our team of lawyers is here to help you understand important pre-filing considerations for high-asset divorces in Oakville. You may call us 24 hours a day to ensure you are prepared to move forward with confidence.
The Riley Divorce & Family Law Firm
