The $4.8 BILLION Dollar Divorce

The $4.8 BILLION Dollar Divorce

Spouses who cannot agree on a parenting plan may require court-appointed assistance.

By now, you may have heard of the recent divorce of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and his wife Elena Rybolovleva. The reason you may have head of this case is the astronomical amount that Mrs. Rybolovleva will get pursuant to the divorce judgment, $4,8 BILLION dollars. That exorbitant amount is fueling headlines across the globe, and many point to this judgment as excessive.

However, if you look closer, it is not all that different than any other divorce. In the United States, each state has their own laws regarding divorce, and the result of your divorce may be different depending on which state you choose to bring your divorce. The Rybolovlev divorce took place in Switzerland.

Without knowing all of the facts of the Rybolovlev divorce, it is somewhat challenging to say whether or not the outcome would have been different if the divorce occurred in Florida. What we do know is this: the Rybolovlevs are both 47 years old, and were married for 26 years. That means that they were married when they were either 20 or 21 years old. If the parties came to the marriage without “family money”, and accumulated all of their wealth during the marriage, this $4.8 BILLION dollar Swiss divorce judgment is not much different than how a Florida court would have resolved the case.

In Florida family law, one of the main parts to a divorce is the equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities. Marital assets and liabilities are defined as, “Assets acquired and liabilities incurred during the marriage, individually by either spouse or jointly by them”.

Assuming that all of the Rybolovlev’s assets were acquired during the marriage, a Florida court would have likely ruled in the exact same manner as the Swiss court.

How We Can Help
If you, a friend or a family member find themselves in a situation such as this, please call the Law Office of Scott A. Ferris, P.A. at 305 670-3330 right away. Scott A. Ferris, Esq. is a licensed family law attorney who has been practicing law since 1987. He is available whenever you need him to pursue your rights. Please learn about our firm at www.FerrisLawFirm.com.