In Ohio, all marital property is subject to equitable distribution. Fifty-fifty division is presumed equitable unless one party proves otherwise. For couples with more complex assets, the division of property can become increasingly more complicated. An experienced attorney will look out for your best interests whether you are dealing with relatively modest assets or a more valuable portfolio.

Although most divorces don't involve assets in the billions, or even millions, a handful of very public divorces involved astronomical settlements. Outside of business mogul Donald Trump, who had prenuptial agreements and parted with $25 million when he divorced his wife Ivana Trump in 1992, and a mere $1 million when he divorce Marla Maples, other business professionals parted with a great deal more.

Ex-spouses who received settlements of more than $300 million include the ex-wife of one of the richest men in Russia. A self-made billionaire who bought and sold goods on the black market in the former Soviet Union and eventually established a private investment company, he was worth an estimated $12.1 billion. His ex-wife received $300 million in the divorce. The co-founder of Black Entertainment Television was America's first African-American billionaire. His ex-wife walked away with $400 million after 30 years of marriage.

The divorce settlement that tops the charts is that of a Saudi businessman who bought and sold arms for the Saudi royal family. At one time thought to be the richest man in the world he had a fortune of $40 billion in the 1980's. When he and his wife parted, the Englishwoman who had converted to Islam in 1961 walked away with an estimated $874 million.

Source: The Washington Times, "World's most expensive divorces all mean business," June 19, 2012