If you're going through a divorce in the Seattle area, I want to help.
I'm Leanne Ozaine, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with 20 years of experience. I'm based in Spokane and work with Seattle clients virtually via Zoom.
I know how overwhelming this feels. You don't need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
Two-thirds of divorce is about money
Your attorney handles the legal side. They negotiate terms, file motions, represent you in court. That's what they're trained for. But they're not building financial models. They're not calculating whether you can actually afford the house you're fighting for, or tracing years of stock options and RSUs to separate what's marital from what's not.
That's what I do. I help you gather your financial information, understand your numbers, and know the right questions to ask. I can help draft settlement proposals that reflect reality, not just what sounds fair on paper. And I work cooperatively with your attorney so the legal strategy and the financial analysis support each other.
A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst handles the part your attorney isn't trained for. That's me.
Tech compensation adds a layer of complexity
Seattle is a tech city. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and hundreds of startups. That means many divorces here involve compensation packages that go far beyond a salary: RSUs with multi-year vesting schedules, stock options (some exercised, some not), deferred compensation, signing bonuses with clawback provisions, and equity in pre-IPO companies that may or may not be worth anything yet.
Each of these has different tax treatment, different liquidity, and different rules about what portion is marital property. An RSU that vests next year is not the same as cash in a checking account, even if the grant value looks similar on paper. A stock option granted before marriage but vested during marriage raises questions about how to allocate it. And deferred compensation sitting in a non-qualified plan has restrictions that affect its real value.
I open the black box on tech compensation and translate it into numbers that you, your attorney, and a judge can understand. What's it actually worth after taxes? What portion is marital? What does it mean for your settlement?
What Washington law means for your finances
Washington is one of nine community property states. Here's what that means for you:
- All income earned and assets acquired during marriage are community property (owned 50/50)
- Property owned before marriage, inheritances, and gifts are considered separate property
- Separate property can become community property through commingling (mixing it with marital funds)
- The court aims for a "just and equitable" division, which doesn't always mean exactly 50/50
- Retirement accounts, pensions, stock options, and RSUs acquired during marriage are divisible
- The family home's equity is community property even if only one name is on the deed
"Just and equitable" requires someone who can calculate what equitable actually means in dollars. That's my job.
How to get started
All sessions are available via Zoom. There's no single right way to begin. It depends on where you are in the process.
The Private Sessions $97
This might be right for you if you're early in the process and want to educate yourself before making any moves. Eight audio episodes and a workbook where I walk you through the financial side of divorce, what to gather, what to watch for, and how to think about your settlement.
Listen to Leanne's thoughts on where to start90-Minute Strategy Session $300
This might be right for you if you want to sit down over Zoom and walk through your specific situation. I'll look at your numbers, help you understand where you stand, and give you a clear picture of what to focus on next.
Learn more about the Strategy SessionSettlement Review $600
This might be right for you if you already have a settlement proposal on the table and you want someone to look at it line by line. I'll tell you whether what's being proposed will actually work for your future, not just on paper.
Learn more about Settlement ReviewI also offer ongoing advisory support and full CDFA engagement for complex cases. These are services I may recommend after we talk, depending on what your situation calls for. See all services →
I'm here when you're ready
Whether you're ready to start listening, ready to get on a call, or just need to talk to someone who understands the financial side, I'm here.
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In-person sessions available in Spokane. · Nationwide via Zoom.