Marriage is a long-term investment. A happy marriage can serve  as a solid foundation in life and bring immeasurable happiness. However, when  a marriage turns sour, it can come with significant financial burdens,  including asset division, long-term alimony, and child support costs, all of  which can greatly impact personal wealth.  

[Real-Life Cases of Marriage and Financial Risks]  

Case 1: The Engineer’s Costly Divorce    Take the example of an engineer at TSMC, who earned an annual salary of  NT$4 million and held over NT$100 million in stock options. However, due to  work-related stress, his marriage became strained, ultimately leading to a  domestic violence incident. A minor dispute escalated into physical abuse,  resulting in a divorce. The court ruled that he had to compensate his ex-wife  with NT$46 million. During the legal proceedings, the engineer attempted to  transfer his assets to evade financial responsibility. However, the court  found him guilty of concealing assets and ordered his detention—making him  the first person in Taiwan to be imprisoned for attempting to hide assets in  a divorce settlement.  

Case 2: The Celebrity’s Painful Marriage    Another case involves a well-known actress who, with the blessings of many,  married her childhood sweetheart in a cross-border marriage. Unfortunately,  her marriage turned into a nightmare filled with infidelity, domestic  violence, and emotional abuse. Seeking to free herself, she filed for  divorce, but her ex-husband demanded high alimony and attempted to claim half  of her assets. He even filed a motion in court to freeze her overseas  properties. To protect her rights, she had to fight multiple legal battles  across different countries. After a prolonged legal dispute, she finally  secured her freedom by paying a settlement of NT$16.5 million, putting an end  to her financial and emotional suffering.    

[Proactive Asset Planning for Financial Security]    

These cases remind us that marriage is not just about emotional bonds—it is  closely tied to financial management. To mitigate the financial risks that  marriage can bring, early financial planning is essential. Asset trusts  provide an effective safeguard, ensuring the security of personal wealth  while maintaining a high level of confidentiality. Unlike prenuptial  agreements, which require mutual consent and can cause discomfort, trusts  allow individuals to protect their assets discreetly, reducing the risk of  financial disputes.    

[Using Offshore Trusts to Secure Wealth]    

🔎 Personal Trusts:  Effectively prevent financial disputes arising from divorce, ensuring assets  remain intact and avoiding prolonged legal battles.    

🔎 Family  Trusts: Protect family businesses from disruptions due to marital changes,  ensuring stable operations and long-term wealth preservation.    

The financial risks of marriage are often underestimated. Taking  precautions today can safeguard personal wealth and prevent asset losses due  to unpredictable emotional changes. Through proper financial planning and  asset trusts, individuals can not only secure their personal finances but  also create a stable future for themselves and their families.