High-asset marriage dissolutions in Minnesota involve a variety of complicated issues. They often involve different types of property than other divorces, and things like prenuptial agreements and complex retirement plans may affect proceedings.

Most Minneapolis residents likely heard last week that celebrity power couple Heidi Klum and Seal are calling it quits. The two recently announced that they will divorce after seven years of marriage. There is much wealth at stake in the pending divorce.

Many were shocked to hear about the celebrity couple splitting up, because they had talked very publicly about their happy marriage--even hosting lavish vow renewal ceremonies each year. However, as happens with many couples, things change over time. The cause of their dissolution is not known and it has also not been revealed whether they have a prenuptial agreement, though it is speculated that they probably signed one.

However, we know that not all high-asset couples sign prenuptial agreements, as has been publicly demonstrated time and time again in the fallout of celebrity divorces.

Klum may be worth $50 to $70 million, and Seal $10 to $15 million, according to a Forbes magazine estimate. Despite the disparity, it is unlikely that any spousal support would be ordered because Seal is still quite wealthy, however, Klum could be asked to pay child support. The two are raising four children.

Furthermore, Klum and Seal reside in California, which is a community property state. This means that in California, each spouse is entitled to half of the assets or debts incurred during the marriage.

Minnesota, rather, is an equitable distribution state. This means that marital property is typically divided between spouses in a fair and equitable fashion. The division itself does not need to be 50/50, but several factors are examined to determine what would be fair. These include: the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions to the marriage, as well as each spouse's age, health, occupation and income potential.

One of the main difficulties in Minnesota high-net worth divorces is determining which assets and debts belong to the marital estate and assigning value to them. This typically requires the use of valuation experts, forensic accountants and other specialists who are usually enlisted through each party's family law attorneys.

Source: Forbes, "Heidi Klum And Seal Divorce: How Much Is At Stake?" Anderson Antunes, Jan. 26, 2012