High-Asset Divorce

Where the real disagreement sits

In a high-asset dissolution, both parties often agree that community property is divided equally. The disagreement is about what is community property, what it is worth, and as of what date. Those three questions drive most of the cost and most of the outcome.

Business interests

A closely held business raises questions of valuation date, goodwill, the owner-spouse's reasonable compensation, and whether growth during marriage was the result of personal effort or passive appreciation. These usually require a forensic accountant, and the choice of expert matters.

Equity and deferred compensation

Stock options, restricted stock units and carried interest are frequently granted for work spanning the marriage and the separation. California applies time-rule formulas to apportion them, and the correct formula depends on why the grant was made.

Tracing and commingling

Separate property that has been deposited into joint accounts, or used toward a jointly titled home, does not automatically become community property — but the party claiming it bears the burden of tracing it. Records matter more than recollection.

Assets outside California

Property held in another state or country adds questions of jurisdiction, enforcement and tax. Our Belize practice means cross-border holdings are a familiar part of the analysis rather than an obstacle to it.