A complex divorce involves challenges beyond a typical divorce case. These challenges may be legal, financial, emotional—or all three. While any divorce can be stressful, complex cases often include disputes over significant assets, business ownership, custody of children, or hidden financial information.
Common examples of what makes a divorce complex include:
In many cases, a complex divorce also becomes a contested divorce, where the spouses cannot agree on major terms. These cases often take longer, require more court involvement, and involve expert testimony.
Dividing property in a complex divorce goes beyond simply splitting assets down the middle. While California law treats most property acquired during marriage as community property, many divorces involve a mix of community and separate property—and untangling those interests can be complicated.
Separate property includes assets a spouse owned before marriage, individual gifts, and inheritances. Generally, each spouse keeps their separate property, but certain actions during the marriage can cause it to become community property.
This can happen through commingling, such as depositing separate funds into a joint account or using them to improve shared property. It can also happen through transmutation, where spouses intentionally agree—often in writing—to change the ownership status of an asset.
These conversions aren’t always clear-cut. That’s why it’s essential to have a complex divorce attorney who can navigate these financial gray areas and advocate for a fair outcome.
Some couples are able to work out their differences privately or through mediation. But in many complex cases, the stakes are too high or the conflict too deep to allow for an easy agreement. A contested divorce means one or both parties disagree on key issues such as spousal support, property division, or parenting plans.
What starts out as a quiet separation can quickly turn into a contentious divorce when trust breaks down or when one party tries to take control of shared assets or custody arrangements. When this happens, the court may need to step in and make the final decisions.
Every complex divorce is different, but many involve the following legal and financial issues that require special attention.
If either spouse owns a business, the company must be evaluated to determine how it should be divided under California’s community property laws. This includes tracing how much of the business is considered shared marital property, identifying any outside investors or partners, and determining how to divide future income fairly.
In some cases, one spouse may try to hide money, undervalue assets, or transfer property to avoid fair division. When this happens, a forensic accountant can step in to uncover hidden bank accounts, trace financial activity, and provide evidence that can be used in court.
Complex divorces often involve high-conflict custody battles, especially when relocation, health concerns, or abuse allegations are involved. These cases may require psychological evaluations, parenting coordinators, or guardian ad litems to represent the child’s best interests. Child and spousal support may also be heavily contested in these situations.
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There’s no simple answer to how expensive a complex divorce is, because the cost depends on the specific issues involved and how long the case takes to resolve. Contested cases with business interests, expert witnesses, and courtroom litigation typically cost more than uncontested divorces.
While the process may be costly, working with the right legal team can prevent bigger losses later. A skilled attorney can help you avoid mistakes, protect your assets, and reduce the emotional and financial toll of prolonged litigation.
If you’re going through a high-stakes divorce, working with a Los Angeles complex divorce attorney is essential. Complex divorces require legal strategy, financial knowledge, and a deep understanding of California family law.
At Atighechi Law Group, we help clients:
Whether your case involves business assets, hidden income, or custody disputes, our complex divorce lawyers are ready to help.