Ending a marriage is hard. Adding a complex portfolio or a family business raises the stakes. A high asset divorce is not only about separating lives. It is about protecting the financial legacy you built, which requires a clear understanding of how divorce works in Kansas and a plan from day one.
How we protect you:
- Protect your business legacy. Obtain accurate valuations and use creative settlement structures to avoid liquidation.
- Ensure privacy. Use private mediation and other tools to keep sensitive financial details out of the public record.
- Secure fair division. Defend separate property and ensure complex assets, including stock options, are valued correctly.
Your best outcome starts with a strategy that preserves assets and reduces unnecessary conflict.
Sophisticated representation for complex financial estates
Successfully navigating a high-asset divorce requires meticulous financial and legal planning. The Bright Family Law Center represents professionals and business owners across Johnson County. We work with forensic accountants, valuation experts, and tax advisers to characterize and value every asset. Whether your case is contested with allegations of hidden assets or headed toward a private, uncontested settlement, we bring meticulous preparation to each phase.
Addressing Support in High-Net-Worth Cases
Our comprehensive service in high-asset cases extends beyond property division. As experienced high-asset divorce lawyers, we structure strategic solutions for both Spousal Support (Maintenance) and Child Support arrangements, ensuring all income, deferred compensation, and non-liquid assets are properly considered to determine a just and reasonable outcome. We blend litigation, mediation, and negotiation to achieve clear, individualized outcomes that protect families and finances.
Equitable distribution under Kansas law
Kansas is an equitable distribution state, not community property. Under K.S.A. 23-2802, courts divide marital property in a way that is “just and reasonable,” which is not automatically a 50/50 split. This standard allows room for tailored solutions that protect long-term financial health rather than cutting the estate in half.
Protecting your business or professional practice
For owners and executives in Overland Park and Leawood, the business is often the most valuable and most vulnerable asset. A key issue is distinguishing enterprise goodwill from personal goodwill. We push back against forced sales, ensure valuations reflect market reality, and structure buy-outs or offsets with other marital assets so you can retain operational control.
Complex asset division and hidden assets
Large estates demand more than a spreadsheet. They require a forensic approach to asset division that follows the money and documents each claim.
- Executive compensation. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), stock options, deferred comp, and bonus timing are analyzed and valued.
- Forensic tracing. We collaborate with experts to trace offshore accounts, identify commingled funds, and uncover dissipation.
- Retirement division. We draft and coordinate Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDROs) to divide qualified plans without unnecessary tax penalties.
Our goal is a complete, defensible picture that leads to a transparent and equitable settlement.
Privacy and discretion for high-profile clients
Clients in Stilwell and Leawood often value privacy as much as results. High-conflict litigation can expose personal data and business details.
- Private mediation. Resolve issues outside the courtroom to keep filings lean.
- Confidentiality tools. Use arbitration, protective orders, and tailored agreements to safeguard trade secrets and reputation.
- Discreet representation. We keep asset lists and sensitive matters limited to the parties and necessary experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are business assets divided in a Kansas divorce?
If a business, or part of it, is marital, it is subject to equitable distribution. Sale is not automatic. We evaluate when the business began and how it appreciated during the marriage, then use expert valuation to identify the marital portion and offset that value with other assets so the owner can keep control.
Is my inheritance considered marital property in Kansas?
Generally, inheritance is separate if it remains separate. Commingling can change that. If inherited funds were deposited into a joint account or used for family expenses, the court may treat them as marital. We trace the source of funds to protect your separate-property claim.
What is the difference between active and passive appreciation?
Passive appreciation is growth from market forces. Active appreciation is growth from effort or management during the marriage. In high-asset cases, this distinction matters for real estate and investment accounts owned before marriage. We work to exclude passive growth of separate property from the marital estate.
Kansas High Asset Divorce Attorney
Meet Our Founder, Christi Bright
As a leading Kansas High-Asset Divorce Attorney, Christi Bright (KU Law ’95) provides strategic representation for complex asset division and business interests across the Kansas City metro. Operating out of our Overland Park office, her deep procedural insight is rooted in her service as the KBA Family Law Section President and a District Court Judge Pro Tempore. Christi is dedicated to providing passionate, ethical counsel, often working as a Guardian ad Litem to protect children’s best interests.
Professional Credentials and Key Roles
- KBA President, Family Law Section (2018–Present)
- District Court Judge Pro Tempore and Kansas State Board of Education Hearing Officer
- Guardian ad Litem (GAL): Focused on representing the best interests of children in contested proceedings
- KBA Governance: Served on the Board of Governors (since 2014) and Board of Trustees (since 2016)
- Licensed Attorney: Licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Missouri
- Affiliations: American Bar Association, Johnson County Bar Association
Strategic Team Support: Meet Michael Bright, Director of Business Development
As Director of Business Development, Michael Bright complements the firm’s legal strategy with his extensive background in real estate finance and strategic planning. This non-legal acumen is crucial for high-asset clients, ensuring the complex financial and business interests are managed alongside the legal strategy. He is committed to serving clients and his community in Overland Park, Kansas.
Expertise and Focus
- Key Expertise: Real Estate Finance, Strategic Planning, and Business Consulting
- Focus: Connecting people to what they value most: their family and their assets
- Background: Assisted clients in consulting projects for small businesses and large public organizations
- Community: Active volunteer in his local church and resident of Overland Park, Kansas
Secure your financial future today
You worked hard for your estate. You deserve a high-asset divorce attorney who will work just as hard to protect it. Contact our Overland Park office to schedule a confidential consultation and begin a strategy that protects your assets and your peace of mind.