Federal & High-Asset Specialist
FERS retirement, NIH benefits, real estate — Maryland's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in federal and gray divorce
Turn Panic Into Power — $97Q: How are Potomac ultra-luxury estates divided in Maryland divorce?
Under Maryland equitable distribution, Potomac estates ($1M-$15M+) purchased during marriage are divided fairly based on multiple factors including length of marriage, contributions, and economic circumstances. Montgomery County has America's highest millionaires per capita. For 30-year marriages, courts typically award near-equal division, but judges weigh homemaker contributions, career sacrifices heavily. At 60+, dividing a $3M Potomac estate means each spouse receives ~$1.5M equity, but replacing comparable luxury solo is impossible without substantial additional wealth or income.
Q: Can anyone afford Montgomery County after divorce at 60+?
Montgomery County is brutally expensive: Bethesda homes $800K-$2M+, Potomac $1M-$5M+. Annual costs: property taxes ($12K-$30K+), maintenance ($15K-$25K), utilities ($6K-$8K), insurance ($3K-$5K) = $70K-$120K+/year. At 60+ on retirement income ($80K-$120K), solo luxury living is nearly impossible. Most divorcees relocate to more affordable Maryland counties (Howard, Frederick) or leave Maryland entirely for lower-tax states like Florida or North Carolina.
Q: How are federal contractor stock options and bonuses divided?
Montgomery County hosts massive federal contractors (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Booz Allen Hamilton). Under Maryland equitable distribution, stock options, unvested equity, and bonuses earned during marriage are marital property divided fairly. For federal contractors with $200K-$500K+ compensation packages, unvested RSUs and deferred compensation require complex valuation. At 60+, decades of contractor employment create substantial hidden wealth—proper forensic accounting is critical to capture all marital assets.
Q: Should I relocate from Maryland after divorce to reduce tax burden at 60+?
Maryland taxes are crushing: 4.75-5.75% state income tax on all retirement income, plus local income tax 2.25-3.2% (total 7-9%), property taxes 1-2% annually. Montgomery County total tax burden exceeds most states. Relocating to Florida (no income/estate tax), North Carolina (flat 4.5%), or Delaware (no sales tax, lower property taxes) saves $15K-$40K+ annually. At 60+ with 25-year retirement ahead, Maryland's tax burden costs $400K-$1M+. Relocating preserves financial security even if you sacrifice Montgomery County's federal contractor job market.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Montgomery County, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown. Instead, you're dividing Potomac estates worth $1M-$5M+, federal contractor stock options, DC lobbyist income, and federal pensions under Maryland's equitable distribution.
Montgomery County features extreme wealth concentration: highest millionaires per capita, median income $100K+, Bethesda/Potomac ultra-affluence.
For decades, your spouse managed the federal retirement accounts. The TSP contributions. The FERS pension calculations. The NIH benefits and contractor stock options.
Now you're expected to negotiate a settlement that will determine what you live on for the rest of your life. You're supposed to understand survivor benefit elections, coverture fractions, and the difference between FERS and CSRS — in 6 months. While you're still in shock.
The spouse who controlled the federal benefits has every advantage. They know the TSP balance, the pension multiplier, the SES bonuses. They can make a terrible offer sound reasonable to someone who's never seen an SF-50.
Women over 50 face a 45% drop in standard of living after divorce. The gap between men (21% drop) and women isn't random — it's what happens when one spouse knows the money and the other doesn't.
You don't need to become a federal benefits expert overnight. You need someone in your corner who already is one — someone whose only job is making sure you understand what you're signing and what you'll actually live on.
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 FERS pension, TSP, and spousal support — 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 on Montgomery County's brutal tax burden.
The asset identification system helps you find federal contractor bonuses, deferred compensation, and accounts 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 — $97Potomac is one of America's wealthiest communities:
Bethesda concentrates federal contractors and consultants:
Montgomery County concentrates senior federal employees:
Can you afford Montgomery County solo? With median $1M+ and $15K-$30K+/year property taxes, Montgomery County is impossible on one income for most. Selling and relocating is common.
Whether you work for a federal contractor or own Potomac property, we provide the guidance you need.
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