Tech Divorce Specialist
Tech equity, retirement accounts, real estate — Washington's 50/50 split requires expertise. This guide shows you what to protect.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in tech equity and gray divorce
Turn Panic Into Power — $97RSUs. Stock options. ESPP. Deferred compensation. You've heard these terms for years. You know they're valuable.
But do you actually understand what they are? Which ones have vested? Which ones vest after separation? What portion is legally community property? How are they taxed when exercised vs. when divided?
Your spouse has lived with these compensation statements for 15 years. They understand vesting schedules, exercise windows, and tax implications.
You're seeing these documents for the first time — while negotiating a settlement that could be worth $1-3 million.
Tech compensation isn't magic. It's complicated — but complicated has solutions. You need someone who can decode the offer letters, translate the vesting schedules, and show you exactly what's yours under Washington community property law.
The difference between understanding tech equity and not? It can easily be $300,000-$500,000 in your final settlement.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Washington, you're navigating one of the nation's most financially advantageous states—with a unique combination of community property rules AND no state income tax. Your divorce likely isn't about custody battles—your children are grown, independent, or building their own careers (perhaps in Seattle's tech industry). Instead, your divorce centers on dividing decades of accumulated wealth in a state that combines California-style community property with Texas-style tax advantages.
Here's what makes Washington unique for gray divorce: Washington is one of only nine community property states, meaning assets acquired during marriage are automatically split 50/50. But unlike California (10.9% state tax) or New York (10.9% state tax), Washington has ZERO state income tax—a massive advantage when dividing retirement accounts, stock options, or selling appreciated real estate.
If you've never personally managed the household finances—perhaps your spouse handled Microsoft or Amazon stock options, Boeing pension benefits, real estate portfolios, or tech startup equity while you focused on family and home—you're now facing critical questions about your financial future in one of America's most expensive but tax-advantaged regions.
Washington offers the best of both worlds: clear 50/50 community property division AND no state income tax.
This creates massive advantages:
For gray divorce: Washington's zero income tax means your retirement dollars stretch further—critical for 50+ clients living on fixed incomes.
Washington is one of only nine community property states. This creates clear, predictable divorce outcomes.
In Washington, all property acquired during marriage is community property and divided 50/50 upon divorce. This is different from most states' "equitable distribution" (fair but not necessarily equal).
Community property (divided 50/50):
Separate property (not divided):
The commingling issue: In long marriages (20-40 years), separate property often becomes community property through commingling. For example, if you inherited money but deposited it into a joint account, it likely became community property.
Washington's advantage: Community property is simpler and more predictable than equitable distribution:
Compare this to New York or Florida (equitable distribution states) where judges have wide discretion to divide assets "fairly" based on subjective factors—leading to unpredictable outcomes and more litigation.
Washington has no state income tax, creating enormous advantages for divorce planning:
Tax benefits:
Important caveat: Washington has a 7% long-term capital gains tax on gains exceeding $250K (enacted 2021), but this only applies to sales of stocks and bonds—NOT real estate or retirement accounts.
Washington is home to Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, and thousands of tech companies. Stock-based compensation is a major divorce asset:
Common tech assets:
"Time rule" valuation: Stock options granted during marriage but vesting after divorce require "time rule" calculation (marital portion = time from grant to separation / time from grant to vest).
Boeing and aerospace companies provide traditional pensions—valuable assets for gray divorce clients:
Pensions earned during marriage are community property and divided 50/50 using the "time rule" (years of service during marriage / total years of service).
Washington—especially Seattle metro—has experienced massive real estate appreciation over the past 20-30 years:
Typical scenario: Home purchased in 1995 for $250K now worth $1.2M-$2M+.
Division rules:
Tax advantage: When you sell to divide equity, you pay NO Washington state capital gains tax (only federal). Compare to California where you'd pay 10.9% state tax!
For 50+ divorcing Washingtonians, retirement accounts are often the most valuable assets:
Common retirement assets:
Division requires: Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) for private plans or court order for government pensions.
Tax advantage: When you withdraw from divided retirement accounts, you pay only federal tax—no state tax like California (10.9%) or New York (10.9%).
While not controlled by state law, Social Security is critical for Washington gray divorce clients:
If you were married for 10+ years, you can claim Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings record (up to 50% of their benefit) without affecting their benefits. This is especially valuable if you didn't work outside the home or had lower earnings.
Important: Remarrying before age 60 terminates your ability to claim on an ex-spouse's record.
Washington courts award spousal maintenance based on statutory factors, not a formula:
Factors courts consider:
For gray divorce: After 20-40 year marriages, Washington courts often award maintenance for a significant duration (sometimes permanent for very long marriages), but amounts vary widely based on income disparity.
While our primary focus is gray divorce (50+ with grown children), some clients have high school or college-age children. Washington uses an income-based formula for child support. However, for most 50+ clients, children are financially independent, and divorce planning centers entirely on asset division and retirement security.
Community property clarity: Clear 50/50 rule eliminates much uncertainty.
Zero state income tax: Retirement dollars stretch further—critical for fixed-income retirees.
Tech industry wealth: Microsoft, Amazon stock options and RSUs create substantial wealth.
Real estate appreciation: Decades of Seattle-area homeownership creates massive equity—divided 50/50 with no state capital gains tax.
We provide virtual divorce financial planning services throughout Washington State. Explore detailed guidance for these major metro areas:
Tech industry stock options (Microsoft, Amazon), high real estate values, Boeing pensions, Eastside wealth in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland.
Learn more →Affordable Eastern Washington, healthcare practices, real estate investors, retirement planning in lower cost-of-living region.
Learn more →Military pensions (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), manufacturing, healthcare, more affordable than Seattle alternative.
Learn more →State government pensions (DRS), public sector benefits, affordable capital region, government employee retirement.
Learn more →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 — $97Washington's combination of community property clarity and zero state income tax creates unique opportunities. Whether you've managed tech stock options for decades or you're learning about community property for the first time, we provide the education and guidance you need.
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