Accountant Divorce in Medfield, MA – What You Need to Know

An accountant and their metaphorical first cousin, the forensic accountant, can be indispensable to family law attorneys and divorce clients during Medfield, MA, divorces. Not only are they skilled at what they do, which is generally to protect their clients’ assets, but they can also help set the stage for a solid and stable financial future.

However, when the accountant is the divorce client, it can be hard to stay objective. What’s at stake may be familiar to them, except now it’s personal. The same goes for divorcing an accountant, who might resist certain discussions or know how to strengthen or obscure their position at your expense.

Whether you’re an accountant getting divorced or your spouse is an accountant, the good news is that a Medfield Divorce Attorney with experience in this area can help keep your divorce on track. Below are some of the areas that tend to come up in these cases and where your attorney may focus to help resolve both the divorce and any related family law issues.

Tax Consequences of a Medfield, MA, Accountant Divorce

Alimony Basics in a Divorce Involving Accountants

As of this writing in 2025, alimony, the money paid by one spouse to the other to help maintain a similar standard of living, is no longer deductible by the payer or taxable to the recipient.

Still, alimony can have a notable effect on your financial situation, depending on whether you’re paying or receiving it. It’s, therefore, worth understanding what that means for you during the divorce process and beyond. A certified divorce financial planner (CDFA), preferably one your lawyer can recommend based on experience, can help you plan ahead.

What Happens to Retirement Savings?

Dividing retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs usually requires a court order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Filing this document allows for a portion of the assets to be transferred to the non-plan owner without tax or early withdrawal penalties.

How Are Stock Options Divided?

Stock options, including Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and Non-qualified Stock Options (NSOs), are taxable assets. If either you or your spouse has them, you’ll want a financial expert involved to make sure they’re properly valued and factored into the divorce. Your Medfield divorce attorney may also recommend adding a tax professional to the team. 

How Are Capital Gains Handled?

Selling or transferring certain assets during divorce may trigger capital gains taxes. The IRS defines capital gains as “the difference between the adjusted basis in the asset and the amount you realized from the sale.” Managing these taxes properly matters. A tax professional with divorce experience can help you approach this strategically.

Equitable Division in a Medfield, MA Divorce Involving an Accountant

Equality vs. Fairness: How Medfield Courts Divide Property

Massachusetts law requires a fair, not necessarily equal, division of assets. That matters in accountant divorces, especially when one or both spouses have complicated compensation packages or business interests.

For example, the Norfolk Probate and Family Court in Canton will look at factors like how long you’ve been married, what each spouse contributed (financially and otherwise) to the marriage, and what each person needs moving forward. That means:

• Just because something was acquired during the marriage doesn’t mean it’ll be split 50/50
• Just because something was owned before the marriage doesn’t mean it’s automatically separate

Longer marriages and joint contributions might lend themselves toward a more even split. But if one spouse carried a heavier financial or household load, they may end up with more.

Stock options, RSUs, and bonuses can complicate this calculation, especially when they vest over time or depend on market conditions. Their value can change quickly and may not be clear at the time of the divorce.

Dividing an Accounting Practice in Medfield, MA, Divorce

If one spouse owns a business, whether it’s a new solo practice or an established accounting firm, that business becomes part of the divorce. Valuing the practice thus becomes an important step.

Valuation will look beyond revenue to property ownership, equipment, and goodwill, which all can factor into the business’s value. Once the valuation is done, the spouses can then look to how to actually divide the practice’s value between them.

Options for Dividing a Practice

• Buy the other spouse out: If you or your spouse want to keep the business, one of you will need to buy out the other’s share. That has to be done in a fair way that also fits into the bigger financial picture.
• Offset their share with other assets: Instead of a cash buyout, you could trade something else, such as real estate, investments, or retirement funds.
• Stay co-owners after divorce: If spouses were partners in the practice, some opt to continue running the business together. That’s rare and usually not recommended. Doing so can be emotionally draining and difficult to manage, particularly if the relationship is strained.

The Role of Prenups and Postnups in a Divorce Involving an Accountant

Prenups and postnups are common among professionals, including accountants in Medfield. These agreements can influence everything from business division to spousal support to retirement accounts. If you have either, your attorney will review it closely to see how it may affect your divorce.

FAQs

 What Are the Possible Tax Consequences When Divorcing an Accountant?

Taxes come up a lot in divorces involving accountants. In Medfield, we often see issues around alimony, retirement, stock options, and capital gains. These are not one-size-fits-all problems. Alimony isn’t tax-deductible or taxable anymore, but it still matters financially. Dividing retirement accounts often means using a QDRO to avoid penalties. Stock options and RSUs are taxable and can be hard to value. And moving or selling assets like real estate can create unexpected capital gains.

What If You Own an Accounting Firm in Medfield and Are Getting Divorced?

If you or your spouse owns an accounting firm in Medfield, it has to be valued. That includes looking at income, equipment, office space, client goodwill, and sometimes even staff. From there, you can buy out your spouse, trade other assets, or, occasionally, stay co-owners. Our Medfield Divorce Lawyers have handled all of these. The right path depends on your goals and how you’re both handling the split.

Is a Divorce Involving an Accountant Always a 50/50 Split in Massachusetts?

No. Massachusetts follows equitable, not equal, division. Fairness depends on your situation. In accountant divorces, elements like complex pay structures, tax implications, and hidden assets can shift the balance in one spouse’s favor.

Why Does Local Knowledge in a Divorce With an Accountant Matter?

Divorcing in Medfield is not the same as divorcing somewhere else. We have been before the local judges and know court staff, CPAs, valuation pros, and other divorce professionals. With less unknowns, we can focus more on strategy.

Talk to a Divorce Attorney in Medfield, MA, About Your Options

No one knows better than an accountant how complicated financial puzzles can get, especially in divorce. But being in the field doesn’t mean you’re automatically protected. The goal isn’t to become the shoemaker without shoes or the shoemaker’s spouse, taken advantage of by someone who knows how to build a financial picture in their favor.

Whether you’re the accountant or divorcing one, our team at Farias Family Law can help. If you’re in Medfield and want to make sure you’re legally and financially covered, let’s speak. Call our Medfield law office today to schedule a consultation.