High-Net-Worth Divorce Specialist
Retirement accounts, real estate, business equity — Arizona's 50/50 split requires expertise. This guide shows you what to protect.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in high-asset divorces
Turn Panic Into Power — $97Q: How does Arizona community property law affect Scottsdale luxury homes?
Arizona is a community property state—all assets acquired during marriage are owned 50/50 regardless of whose name is on the title. For Scottsdale luxury homes ($1M-$20M+ in Paradise Valley/Desert Mountain), this means marital appreciation gets divided equally even if only one spouse worked. At 60+, selling a $3M home and dividing proceeds leaves you with $1.5M minus taxes—often not enough to buy comparable Scottsdale real estate solo.
Q: What happens to golf club memberships in Scottsdale divorces?
Scottsdale private club memberships (Desert Mountain $100K-$300K, Silverleaf $75K-$150K, DC Ranch $50K-$100K) purchased during marriage are community property requiring 50/50 division. Most clubs don't allow membership splitting, so one spouse typically buys out the other's half or the membership is sold/relinquished. At 60+, losing a golf membership you've enjoyed for 20+ years is emotionally painful but financially necessary when affording it solo is impossible.
Q: Can I afford Scottsdale after divorce at 60+?
Scottsdale luxury living costs $70K-$150K+ annually: property taxes ($8K-$40K), HOA fees ($2.4K-$12K), golf membership ($10K-$50K), utilities/insurance ($8K-$15K), and maintenance. At 60+ on retirement income alone ($50K-$100K from pensions/Social Security), solo Scottsdale living is financially unsustainable for most. Many divorcees downsize to Phoenix suburbs or relocate to more affordable Arizona cities to preserve retirement security.
Q: How does Arizona's no tax on Social Security benefit 60+ divorcees?
Arizona doesn't tax Social Security benefits, unlike many states. For 60+ divorcees, this makes retirement dollars stretch further—if your Social Security is $2,500/month, you keep all $30K annually vs. losing $1,500-$3,000 to state taxes elsewhere. Combined with Arizona's relatively low income tax (2.5-4.5%), retirees on fixed income preserve more wealth. However, Scottsdale's premium costs still make solo living challenging despite tax benefits.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Scottsdale, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown and independent. Instead, you're dividing luxury desert real estate, golf memberships, investment portfolios, and retirement accounts under Arizona's community property rules with no tax on Social Security.
Your Scottsdale divorce likely involves high-value assets: $1M-$5M+ homes, country club memberships, second homes, and substantial retirement savings accumulated over decades.
You spent 30 years building wealth together in Scottsdale. The Paradise Valley home. The Desert Mountain membership. The investment portfolios and retirement accounts.
Now Arizona's community property law says split it 50/50. But not all assets are equal. A $2M home isn't the same as $2M in stocks. A pension isn't liquid cash. Business interests require valuation that can vary by hundreds of thousands depending on who's doing the math.
Your spouse's attorney is already working to protect their client. The business valuator they hired? Their job is to minimize. The "generous" offer to let you keep the house? It might leave you asset-rich and cash-poor.
At this level of wealth, every mistake costs more than most people earn in a year. A golf membership you can't afford to maintain. A house with property taxes that devour your retirement income. A "fair" settlement that sounds equal but leaves you struggling.
You need someone who can show you exactly what different settlement scenarios mean for your actual life — not just the numbers on paper, but whether you can maintain your lifestyle 5, 10, 25 years from now.
Scottsdale premium values:
Community property: Homes purchased during marriage divided 50/50, even if titled in one name.
Scottsdale features world-class private clubs:
Memberships worth $50K-$300K+ are marital property if purchased during marriage.
Scottsdale attracts wealthy retirees from across the US:
Arizona's no tax on Social Security + low income tax makes retirement dollars stretch further.
Can you afford Scottsdale solo? Luxury desert homes have high costs: property taxes ($8K-$40K+/year), HOA fees ($200-$1K+/month), golf memberships ($10K-$50K/year). Post-divorce budgets often require downsizing or relocating.
Arizona law applies: Community property means 50/50 division. Spousal maintenance available for long marriages. No tax on Social Security helps retirement planning.
The 5-step system that shows you what you'll actually live on, so you stop guessing and start knowing.
Calculate your real post-divorce income — including spousal support, assets, and earning potential — so you negotiate from facts, not fear.
Document gathering checklists tell you exactly what to bring to your attorney — so you walk in prepared, not panicked.
Map out your real expenses as a single person — before you fight for something you can't actually maintain.
The asset identification system helps you find accounts and property you might not even know exist.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
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Get the Clarity You Need — $97Whether you've managed luxury assets for years or you're learning about community property for the first time, we provide the guidance you need.
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