Complex Property Division

House model with judge's gavel nearby.

Navigating High-Asset Divorce in Long Beach, CA

When a marriage involves significant wealth, I find that divorce quickly becomes more complicated than the standard case. Beyond the usual division of property and support, I often deal with intellectual property like patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, along with complex business structures, goodwill, royalties, art collections, receivables, substantial stock holdings, and life insurance policies. Each of these requires careful attention to protect my client's interests.

The Case for Resolving Matters Outside of Court

I generally encourage my clients to consider settling out of court whenever possible, and here's what I've seen work in their favor:

  • Greater privacy — Sensitive financial details stay out of the public record.
  • Stronger asset protection — Assets are less likely to be diminished by prolonged litigation.
  • Reduced emotional strain — I can help separate the emotional elements of the divorce from the practical work of dividing assets.
  • Collaborative expertise — I typically bring in accountants and tax professionals who work together, not against one another, to maximize and safeguard my client's financial position while ensuring the division and support arrangements are fair.

Supporting the Out-Spouse Through the Process

In many marriages, one spouse manages the finances while the other has limited visibility into the marital estate — whether because of premarital assets or a business built during the marriage. I refer to the less-involved spouse as the "out-spouse," and I make it a priority to get them full access to financial records and a clear understanding of what's at stake.

This matters for two reasons:

  • If the more financially involved spouse fails to disclose assets, I can pursue setting aside the divorce judgment.
  • Without a solid grasp of the marital estate, my client can't evaluate whether a settlement truly serves their interests or protects their children — and reaching an agreement can take significantly longer.

Pitfalls I Work to Help My Clients Avoid

Over the years, I've seen certain missteps derail high-asset divorces, and I make it my job to steer clients away from them:

  • Poor asset valuations — Working with the wrong appraisers or business valuation experts can undervalue or overvalue key assets.
  • Skipping financial expertise — Commingled funds across stock accounts, retirement accounts, and business interests need to be traced by accountants who specialize in high-asset cases. I also rely on these experts to tabulate the full estate and walk the out-spouse through the pros and cons of any settlement proposal.
  • Rushing to settle — I never recommend agreeing to terms without full disclosure and a thorough forensic accounting review first.
  • Hiring the wrong attorney — An attorney unfamiliar with high asset cases may not know to bring in forensic accountants early to trace and discover assets.
  • Concealing assets — This is a serious risk. It can lead to a judgment being set aside, steep sanctions, and an unfavorable division of property.

Calculating Spousal Support

When incomes are unequal, I calculate spousal support using two distinct approaches depending on the stage of the case.

For temporary support during litigation, courts typically rely on DissoMaster software, though I still make sure the judge weighs the broader factors under Family Code section 4320 at the initial hearing. I come prepared with a marital standard of living analysis to support my client's position.

For permanent spousal support, the calculation shifts to a full analysis of the 4320 factors — using DissoMaster at trial for this determination is actually reversible error. Those factors include:

  • Length of the marriage
  • Standard of living established during the marriage
  • Age and health of each spouse
  • Supported spouse's ability to find work or build marketable skills
  • Contributions the supported spouse made to the other's education or career
  • Each spouse's income and separate property
  • How assets are divided
  • Other considerations, including any history of domestic violence

In high net worth cases, I lean heavily on a forensic accountant to translate the story of the marriage into monetary terms, and I comb through tax returns to uncover hidden perks or expenses covered by a business. I also make sure budgets are calculated accurately to reflect real, changing needs, and where appropriate, I help my client build a work re-entry plan or outline the education steps needed to become self-sufficient, factoring in the marriage's length and the 4320 factors.

Prioritizing Child Custody

Cases involving children are never easy, whether they're resolved through mediation or litigation. I find mediation gives families a far better shot at a parenting plan genuinely centered on the children's best interests, while litigation's adversarial nature — despite everyone's intentions — often adds fuel to the conflict rather than reducing it.

  • High asset cases bring their own custody challenges. Wealthy families often travel extensively, maintain residences on different continents, and enroll children in private schools with substantial costs.
  • I work with my clients to find creative, flexible solutions around travel schedules, business commitments, and demanding careers.
  • I always keep the focus on reaching consensus around the children's best interests.
  • The more honesty and flexibility both parents bring to the table, the easier it becomes to minimize disruption to the children's lives.
  • Resolving custody and parenting plan questions early tends to reduce conflict for the kids and frees up emotional bandwidth to negotiate property division and support.
  • Once my client's fears about post-divorce parenting are addressed, they're in a much stronger position to negotiate the rest.

Building the Right Team

High net worth gives my clients the opportunity to assemble a full team of professionals — not just for dividing assets, tax planning, and support calculations, but for emotional and psychological support throughout the process. I don't believe divorce has to be a life-destroying event; with the right team, my clients can come through it stronger and more balanced.

When addiction or abuse has played a role in the marriage, I make sure those issues are addressed directly, since successful co-parenting requires parents who have done the work to heal.

My team typically includes:

  • Accountants and tax experts
  • Business attorneys
  • Real estate appraisers
  • Therapists and coaches
  • Parenting plan coordinators

Knowing which professionals a case actually needs, and managing that team effectively, is a core part of the work I do for every client.

Essential Links

Starting a Divorce Action in California
Failed Marriage, Successful Divorce
How is a High Asset Divorce Attorney Different from a Family Lawyer?
Golden Years Divorce: 5 Things You Must Know Before You Walk Away
New Year, New You: Filing for Divorce
Increasing Your Money IQ: How To Gain Advantage During Your Divorce

Secure Your Assets Today

If you're facing a high-asset divorce, I'm here to help you protect your interests and make informed decisions. Call (562) 426-6522 to schedule your free consultation.