High-Net-Worth Divorce Specialist
Business equity, retirement accounts, real estate — Delaware's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in high-asset divorces
Turn Panic Into Power — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Delaware, you're likely dealing with something most people don't talk about: the complete shift in your financial future when child-related issues are no longer the focus. Your children may be grown and financially independent, which means your entire divorce becomes about protecting and dividing decades of accumulated wealth—often in ways unique to Delaware's corporate-heavy economy.
This is especially overwhelming if you've never personally managed the household finances—and you're certainly not alone. Many of our Delaware clients are navigating complex financial decisions for the first time during divorce, often involving executive compensation from Fortune 500 headquarters, stock options from credit card companies, pharmaceutical benefits from AstraZeneca, or chemical industry pensions from DuPont's legacy.
Why Delaware is different: Delaware uses equitable distribution (not the strict 50/50 split of community property states), has NO sales tax (which affects financial planning), and offers progressive income tax rates (0-6.6%). Plus, Delaware's concentration of corporate headquarters creates unique high-asset divorce complexities you won't find anywhere else.
The fear-to-strength progression: Right now, you might be feeling panic about losing half of everything you've worked for—or confusion about how to value stock options, deferred compensation, or executive benefits. That's normal. But here's what we do together: we turn that panic into power by understanding exactly what Delaware law means for YOUR situation, properly valuing complex compensation packages, and building a post-divorce financial plan that gives you confidence and security.
Here's what nobody tells you: A "fair" settlement can still leave you struggling.
50/50 sounds equal. But if you take the house and your spouse takes the 401(k), only one of you has retirement income. A pension isn't cash. Tax treatment turns "half" into 40% or 60% depending on which half you take.
Your lawyer knows Delaware law. They don't know what you'll live on for the next 30 years.
Most people sign their settlement while still in emotional shock. The brain is in survival mode — the prefrontal cortex that makes rational decisions is literally offline. By the time the fog lifts, the settlement is final.
You need someone whose only job is protecting your financial future — not billable hours, not legal posturing. Someone who can show you exactly what different settlement scenarios mean for your life 5, 10, 25 years from now.
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
$97
Instant access. 100% money-back guarantee.
Get the Clarity You Need — $97Here's what that really means for your situation: Unlike California or Texas where community property rules apply, Delaware courts divide marital property based on what's "fair" under your specific circumstances—not automatically 50/50.
What counts as marital property in Delaware:
What counts as separate property in Delaware:
The equitable distribution factors Delaware courts consider:
Important note: Delaware courts presume marital property should be divided equally UNLESS such division would be manifestly unfair. This creates a starting presumption of 50/50, but with flexibility based on circumstances.
This affects your post-divorce financial planning in meaningful ways.
Delaware is one of only five states with no sales tax. While this doesn't directly impact property division, it significantly affects your cost of living calculations and post-divorce budgeting:
Financial planning benefits:
Strategic consideration: If you're deciding whether to stay in Delaware vs. relocate to a neighboring state (Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey), the sales tax differential should factor into your cost-of-living analysis. For a household spending $50,000/year on taxable goods, Delaware saves roughly $3,000-$4,000 annually compared to neighboring states.
More than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware, and many have significant executive or operational presence here. This creates unique divorce complexities around executive compensation packages.
Key corporate compensation issues:
For those new to finances: Executive compensation is rarely just a salary. It includes stock, bonuses, deferred comp, and benefits that can total 3-10x base salary. Understanding how to value and divide these assets is critical—and not intuitive without expertise.
Wilmington is a major center for the credit card industry (Capital One, Barclays, JPMorgan Chase, Discover). These financial services jobs offer exceptional compensation and benefits that complicate divorce.
Financial services industry divorce considerations:
Critical timing issue: If your spouse is expecting a large bonus or stock vesting soon, timing your divorce filing can significantly impact the financial outcome. Delaware law looks at when property is acquired (marital vs. separate), so understanding vesting and bonus schedules is essential.
Delaware is home to AstraZeneca's U.S. headquarters and a growing biotech sector. Pharmaceutical industry compensation often includes complex benefits that require specialized handling in divorce.
Pharmaceutical industry divorce considerations:
For gray divorce: If your spouse has worked in pharmaceutical R&D for 20+ years, understanding patent rights, deferred compensation, and retirement benefits becomes critical for a fair settlement.
Delaware's chemical industry legacy (DuPont, Corteva, Chemours) means many gray divorce cases involve chemical industry pensions, deferred comp, and specialized benefits.
Chemical industry divorce considerations:
Pension division complexity: Chemical industry pensions often involve survivor benefits, early retirement options, and lump sum alternatives. Each choice has different tax implications and long-term value—choosing wrong can cost you hundreds of thousands over your lifetime.
Delaware's Court of Chancery makes it the corporate law capital of America. Many attorneys practicing Delaware corporate law earn $300K-$1M+ annually, creating high-asset divorce scenarios.
Corporate law practice divorce issues:
Valuation challenges: Unlike a manufacturing plant with clear value, law practices are hard to value. Delaware courts must determine what portion of firm value is due to marital efforts vs. individual reputation and skills.
Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Bethany Beach, and other coastal communities are popular retirement destinations. Gray divorce often involves decisions about beach property and coastal retirement plans.
Beach retirement considerations:
For gray divorce: Many couples planned to retire to the beach together. Now you're deciding: sell the beach house and split proceeds? Buy out your spouse? Keep it jointly (risky)? Each option has different financial and emotional implications.
For gray divorce, retirement accounts may be your largest asset—and Delaware law says the marital portion gets divided equitably.
Critical considerations:
For those new to finances: A 401(k) is your employer-sponsored retirement account. The money grows tax-deferred until you withdraw it in retirement. Dividing it incorrectly can trigger massive tax bills—this is where expert guidance pays for itself many times over.
Delaware courts have significant discretion in awarding spousal support, with detailed statutory factors guiding decisions.
Key characteristics of Delaware spousal support:
Statutory factors Delaware courts consider:
For gray divorce: If you're 55+ and haven't worked outside the home for 25 years while your spouse built a corporate career, Delaware courts recognize you may never achieve comparable earning capacity. Long-term or indefinite support becomes more likely—especially after marriages of 20+ years.
When your spouse earns $300K+ in corporate compensation:
If you're the potential recipient:
If you're the potential payor:
Delaware has a progressive income tax system with rates from 0% to 6.6%. While moderate compared to high-tax states, it still matters for post-divorce financial planning.
Delaware income tax brackets (2025):
Key tax considerations for divorce:
For gray divorce: Understanding which assets are pre-tax (traditional 401k/IRA) vs. post-tax (Roth accounts, taxable investments) affects the true value of your settlement. A $100K traditional IRA is worth less than $100K in after-tax value.
Looking for information specific to your area? Explore our metro-specific page:
If you've been married 10+ years, you may be entitled to Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings record—even if you never worked outside the home or earned significantly less. This is federal law, not Delaware law.
Key benefits:
Critical timing: When you start Social Security significantly impacts your lifetime income. This is an essential part of your post-divorce financial plan, especially for gray divorce where you're approaching retirement age.
Delaware courts take economic misconduct seriously. If your spouse has been hiding assets, transferring money inappropriately, or wasting marital funds, Delaware law allows courts to account for this dissipation.
Common forms of economic misconduct:
How to protect yourself: Document everything. Bank statements, credit card statements, stock option records, tax returns, and executive compensation statements become critical evidence. As a financial professional, I can help you identify red flags in complex compensation packages and work with your attorney to build a strong case.
You don't have to navigate Delaware divorce finances alone. Let's turn your fear into financial strength.
Turn Panic Into Power — $97 Get the Clarity You Need