For many wealthy couples, the country club serves as their social hub and is a great source for networking in their respective industries. Countless deals get sealed on golf courses and tennis courts here in Florida, and you don’t want to lose that advantage if you get divorced.
Unfortunately, most (if not all) country clubs admit solo members whose spouses and children then become associate members under the member spouse (usually the male). So, can you fight for the club membership?
You can use it as leverage
While the country club rules dictate which spouse keeps the membership, that doesn’t negate a claim to your share of its value, which can be significant. You can use the value of your membership to angle for something of similar value, e.g., a beachfront condo or a higher percentage of the retirement accounts.
Accurately value the membership
With the initiation fees, annual dues and monthly statements, country club memberships can be quite expensive. Understandably, you want to get as much equivalent value as possible out of your share of the membership. Make sure that you do by getting a correct valuation of the club membership.
Negotiate before litigating
In a high-asset divorce, there can be a rush to file a divorce petition to ensure that you get what you want from the marriage. While litigation always remains an option for divorcing couples, private negotiations often yield better results and generate less acrimony.
By clarifying your end goals with your legal team, you can fight for the assets you need to begin a new chapter in your life once your marriage has ended here in Florida.