Trusted High-Asset Divorce Attorney in Calabasas, CA
A divorce involving a business, several properties, or large investment accounts requires more than a standard approach. A Calabasas high-asset divorce lawyer can help you sort out what you and your spouse own, how each piece is valued, and which decisions need care before the case moves forward.
Two senior family law attorneys, Brian J. Kramer and Diana P. Zitser, founded Kramer & Zitser, LLP in 2025. Each is a Certified Family Law Specialist, a designation from the State Bar of California. When you come to us for support in your family law matter, we can explain the legal process and your options in plain terms.
High-Asset Divorce Cases in Calabasas
A house can be one of the largest assets to divide in a Calabasas divorce. The city sits between the foothills of the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountains in the southwestern San Fernando Valley, 22 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The median home value in Calabasas is about $1,504,500, and the median household income is around $165,288.
Our attorneys handle cases involving holdings like these:
- Businesses. Companies, startups, and private equity interests that call for a forensic accounting valuation.
- Real estate and trusts. Family homes, investment property, and interests held in trusts.
- Equity compensation. Stock options and other pay tied to company shares.
- Intellectual property. Royalties, licensing deals, patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
- Digital and offshore assets. Cryptocurrency and accounts held outside the United States.
How We Handle a High-Asset Divorce Case
When a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is in play, trial and appellate experience matters. Brian J. Kramer has represented clients in complex family law matters before trial and appellate courts across California, including disputes over marital property and the enforcement of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Diana P. Zitser holds a business administration and finance degree, which matters when a case turns on what a business or an investment portfolio is worth. She also focuses on the big picture, helping clients make forward-thinking decisions instead of decisions driven by short-term emotion.
We strive to resolve matters efficiently, out of the courtroom and out of the public spotlight, whenever possible. If your matter has to be contested, we’re prepared to litigate it.
Financial Disclosure in a High-Asset Divorce
California requires both spouses to share complete financial information, and the first exchange is due within 60 days after you file your petition or response. If someone hides information or leaves things out, a judge could take away some of that person’s property or order payment of the other spouse’s attorney’s fees.
To prepare, gather these records:
- Income. Pay stubs and tax returns.
- Accounts. Statements for bank, retirement, and investment accounts.
- Property and businesses. Records for each home, company, or other major asset.
- Marital agreements. Any prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.
Hire a High-Asset Divorce Lawyer Before You File or Respond
Courts statewide received 107,146 divorce, legal separation, and annulment filings in one year. California’s high-asset divorce laws are the same property rules that apply to every couple, but a larger estate raises the cost of mistakes in valuing, characterizing, and disclosing what you own.
You should hire a high-asset divorce lawyer when your estate includes a business, equity compensation, or property held in more than one place.
Calabasas High-Asset Divorce FAQs
What assets cannot be split in a divorce in California?
Separate property is not divided in a California divorce. That includes what you owned before the marriage, what you acquired after your date of separation, and any gift or inheritance you received at any time. Property you buy with separate money or earn from separate property also stays separate, as long as you kept it separate and didn’t give it to your spouse. You and your spouse can also agree to a different division if you both think it’s fair.
Am I entitled to half of my spouse’s 401(k) in a divorce?
You’re generally entitled to half of the 401(k) earned during the marriage, not half of the whole balance. Contributions made before the marriage or after separation are separate property. A court order called a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is needed to divide the account, because federal law allows retirement interests to be assigned only through one.
Can my spouse cut me off financially during separation?
Your spouse’s ability to cut you off financially during separation is limited once a divorce case is filed, since the summons served with the petition carries standard restraining orders that bind both spouses. They bar hiding, transferring, or disposing of property, except in the usual course of business or for necessities of life, and they bar canceling insurance or changing its beneficiaries. You can also ask the court for temporary spousal support when the case is filed.
What is the date of separation, and why does it matter?
The date of separation is the day one spouse let the other know that the marriage was over, followed by actions consistent with that decision. For example, it might be the day one of you moved out. Anything you earn after that date is generally separate property. The date can be trickier to pin down than the wedding date, so talk to a lawyer early.
Which court handles a divorce for Calabasas residents?
The Los Angeles County Superior Court handles divorces for Calabasas residents. The exact courthouse depends on where you live in the city. The court’s Filing Court Locator shows which district and courthouse apply when you enter a city or zip code. A court’s caseload may require a case to be filed in a different district, so you should confirm with the clerk’s office before you file.
Talk to a Calabasas High-Asset Divorce Attorney
A Calabasas high-asset divorce attorney from our team can explain your options before you file or respond to a divorce petition. We meet clients at our Los Angeles office, 1901 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, and we start with a confidential conversation about your goals. Contact our team to schedule a consultation.
