Tech Divorce Specialist
Tech compensation, venture stakes, real estate — Washington's community property law requires expertise. This guide shows you what to protect.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in tech equity divorces
Turn Panic Into Power — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Seattle metro, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown, independent, or building careers in tech themselves. Instead, you're navigating the financial complexity of dividing Microsoft or Amazon stock options, Boeing pensions, Seattle real estate, and retirement accounts accumulated over decades—all under Washington's community property rules with ZERO state income tax.
This is especially overwhelming if you've never personally managed household finances. Perhaps your spouse handled Microsoft RSUs, Amazon stock grants, Boeing pension benefits, or real estate portfolios while you focused on family and home. Now you're facing questions like:
RSUs. Stock options. Vesting schedules. Deferred compensation. You've heard your spouse mention these terms for years. You know they're valuable.
But do you actually understand what they are? Which RSUs have vested? Which ones vest after separation? What portion of those Amazon shares is legally community property? How does Boeing's pension formula work?
Your spouse has lived with these compensation statements for 15+ years. They understand vesting schedules, exercise windows, and the tax implications of every stock grant.
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 — and Washington's zero state income tax makes every dollar even more valuable.
Seattle is home to two of the world's most valuable companies. Tech stock compensation creates uniquely complex divorce assets:
Common Microsoft/Amazon assets:
Community property rule: Stock grants awarded during marriage are community property and divided 50/50, even if they vest after divorce.
"Time rule" calculation: For stock that vests after separation: marital portion = (time from grant to separation) / (time from grant to vest).
Washington's zero income tax creates MASSIVE advantages when dividing or exercising tech stock:
Real-world example: Exercising $500K of Microsoft stock options? Washington resident pays $0 state tax. California resident pays $54,500 state tax. That's a $54,500 advantage!
Seattle is Boeing's original headquarters. Many 50+ residents have Boeing pensions and benefits:
Boeing pensions are community property if earned during marriage and divided 50/50 using "time rule."
Seattle metro has experienced explosive real estate appreciation over 20-30 years:
Typical appreciation:
Community property rule: If purchased during marriage with marital funds, home is 100% community property and equity divided 50/50.
Tax advantage: Selling the home? No Washington state capital gains tax (only federal). Compare to California where you'd pay 10.9% state tax!
Beyond Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle has hundreds of tech companies creating wealth:
All stock-based compensation granted during marriage is community property.
In Seattle, we work with clients divorcing after 20, 30, or 40+ years of marriage. Here's what makes gray divorce financially complex:
If your spouse worked at Microsoft or Amazon for 20-30 years:
Homes purchased 20-30 years ago for $200K-$400K may now be worth $1M-$3M. Community property means 50/50 split of all equity—with NO state capital gains tax when you sell.
Boeing pensions provide lifetime income—critical for retirement security. Community property means 50/50 split of marital portion, with survivor benefit decisions affecting both spouses' long-term security.
Post-divorce, the critical question: can one person afford Seattle's high cost of living?
Many of our Seattle clients—particularly spouses of tech employees—have never personally managed RSUs, stock options, or vesting schedules.
You're not alone: Tech compensation is complex, but learnable. We help you understand what you have and how to manage it.
While our primary focus is gray divorce (50+ with grown children), some clients have high school or college-age children. Washington child support formulas apply, but Seattle's high incomes can lead to substantial amounts. However, for most 50+ clients, children are independent.
As a Seattle resident, your divorce follows Washington community property law:
Maintenance (alimony): Courts consider statutory factors; duration varies but often substantial for long marriages.
Learn more about Washington divorce laws and community property →
We provide virtual divorce financial planning services throughout Seattle metro, including:
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 — $97Whether you've managed tech stock for years or you're learning about RSUs for the first time, we provide the education and guidance you need.
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