Asset & Property Division Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA
Guiding you through division of property, business, investments, & more
You built your business from the ground up, and now you might have to give half of it away in the divorce. Or maybe you’re the spouse who made that growth possible by managing everything else, but your contributions supposedly “don’t count” because your name isn’t on the documents.
Someone’s claiming rights to your inheritance. The house you both saved for—and that has all your memories—is now “community property” and up for grabs. Complex debts need sorting out, retirement accounts are in question, and you’re realizing assets you thought were protected aren’t.
“After a 16-year marriage, I was terrified of losing my sons and being drained financially, but Alphonse helped me win primary custody and child support, which also reduced my spousal payments. At 60, I finally feel I can protect my sons' future, thanks to the guidance and strength of my attorney.
California Property Division: Where "Fair" Doesn't Always Mean Equal
California’s community property laws require “fair” division of marital assets. But fair doesn’t mean cutting everything in half with a chainsaw. The difference between a strategic approach and a devastating outcome often comes down to one factor: having experienced Los Angeles asset division lawyers who understand that every marriage has its own financial DNA.
Los Angeles Asset and Property Division Attorneys
Led by Certified Family Law Specialist Alphonse Provinziano, our firm has guided clients through some of California’s most complex asset division cases, including international property disputes and multi-million dollar business valuations.
As experienced asset and property division attorneys in Los Angeles, we help divide real estate, businesses and partnerships, retirement accounts and investments, personal property, and debt allocation. We also handle trusts and estate planning overlaps, crypto and digital property, and hidden or underreported business income.
How Our Property Division Attorneys Can Help You
Every marriage has its own financial fingerprint—who took the risks, who made the sacrifices, who built what, and when. That’s where we start.
For the Spouse Who Built the Wealth
You took the 2 AM calls when deals went sideways. You missed family dinners to close business transactions, skipped vacations to reinvest profits, and probably aged five years for every year your company grew.
Our complex property division lawyers work with forensic accountants and business valuators who understand that businesses aren’t just bank accounts with fancy names. We help courts see the difference between what a company is worth to a stranger versus what it’s worth to the person who built it.
What we’ve helped clients keep:
- Tech companies started in garages
- Private practices built over decades
- Investment portfolios grown through years of research and risk
- Real estate empires assembled one property at a time
For the Spouse Who Made the Wealth Possible
You weren’t the name on the business license, but you were the one ensuring dinner was on the table when they worked late. Again. You managed relocations, raised children, and created the stable foundation that allowed wealth to grow.
We show courts the invisible labor—childcare, household management, career sacrifices—that created the environment for wealth building.
Our asset division lawyers know how to demonstrate the full picture of wealth creation in marriage, including contributions that don’t appear on tax returns.
Hidden Assets Your Spouse Thinks You Won't Notice
Red flags we investigate:
- Sudden drops in business income right before divorce proceedings
- Large transfers to family members or business partners
- New debts that weren’t disclosed during marriage
- Assets moved to offshore entities
- Cryptocurrency that mysteriously “disappeared”
Our hidden asset divorce lawyers work with forensic investigators who can trace money through complex corporate structures.
We partner with international asset recovery specialists when money crosses borders, and we have business valuators who can spot financial manipulation without deep investigations.
Special Types of Assets Our Asset Division Lawyers Handle
Business Ownership and Professional Practices
At Provinziano & Associates, our Los Angeles property division attorneys know that dividing and valuing a company requires understanding its industry, growth potential, and the role each spouse played in its success. We work with certified business appraisers who can distinguish between the business value and the owner’s personal contributions.
Real Estate Portfolios
From primary residences to commercial properties to international holdings, real estate division requires appraisers who understand current market conditions and future potential. We ensure every property gets proper valuation and strategic division.
Investment and Retirement Accounts
Stocks, bonds, 401(k)s, pensions, and IRAs each have different tax implications and division requirements. Our asset division lawyers coordinate with financial planners to ensure divisions don’t trigger unnecessary penalties or tax consequences.
Intellectual Property and Royalties
Patents, trademarks, creative works, and licensing agreements require specialized valuation. We collaborate with IP attorneys and industry experts to ensure these often-overlooked assets get proper treatment.
Commingling and Asset Tracing
When separate property becomes mixed with community assets during marriage, our complex property division attorneys work with forensic accountants to trace funds and protect your separate property rights through detailed financial investigation.
Collections and Luxury Assets
Art, jewelry, classic cars, wine collections, and other high-value personal property require certified appraisers and sensitive handling that honors their personal significance.
Pet Custody and Care Plans
Determining custody schedules, care responsibilities, and ongoing support for beloved family pets requires sensitive handling and creative solutions. We help by advocating for arrangements that reflect the bond between you and your pet, while ensuring their well-being remains a priority.
Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets
As digital currencies and NFTs become mainstream investments, they’re creating new challenges in property division. From tracking transactions across decentralized platforms to valuing volatile holdings that change by the hour, these emerging assets require experts who can navigate blockchain forensics, assess rapidly changing valuations, and ensure nothing gets hidden in the digital landscape.
The Provinziano & Associates Difference
From Business Holdings to Hidden Accounts—We Know Who to Call
We work closely with forensic accountants, business valuators, and tax specialists to ensure proper valuation and division of closely held businesses, real estate holdings, stock options, cryptocurrency, and international & offshore investments.
We Treat Your Personal Life With the Discretion It Deserves
While some court records are public by law, we take every possible measure to keep your case as private as the process allows. From how we communicate to how and where we file, to who sees what, we implement confidentiality strategies that ensure only the people who need to know do.
We Help You Anticipate
We help clients prepare for every stage of property division. This includes identifying marital vs. separate property, reviewing financial records, evaluating both partners’ contributions, and creating a strategy that supports long-term financial stability, whether you're protecting assets or ensuring a fair division.
We Don’t Just Hear You, We Speak Your Language
At Provinziano & Associates, we believe no one and nothing should be lost in translation. While we primarily speak English, we also support clients in other languages and have many team members who speak a second language. If language is a concern, reach out to ask if we can support your native language.
First Class Litigation
Some cases reach an agreement, others don’t. When your outcome depends on going to trial, our Los Angeles divorce attorneys bring the kind of courtroom skill and strategic focus that comes from years of litigation experience, when negotiation alone isn’t enough.
What Our Clients Say
Are You Ready for a Private, No-Cost Case Evaluation?
With a deep understanding of California family law and over a decade of experience, we’ve successfully resolved every situation imaginable.
Here’s How Our Property Division Attorneys Work With You
Schedule a Private Case Evaluation
After You Hire Us: Get a Clear, Custom Strategy to Protect What’s Yours
Every Move, Filing, and Conversation Has a Purpose
Frequently Asked Questions
About Property Division in Divorce in California
How are assets divided in a divorce?
California follows community property law. This means most assets acquired during the marriage—such as income, homes, cars, and investments—are split 50/50 in a divorce, regardless of whose name is on the title.
Property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance is usually considered separate property and not divided, as long as it wasn’t commingled with marital assets.
How is debt divided in divorce?
Debts in California are divided just like assets. If the debt was incurred during the marriage—whether on a credit card, car loan, or tax bill—it’s generally considered community debt and split equally between spouses.
Debts taken on before marriage or after separation are usually separate and belong to the spouse who took them on. However, if a separate debt benefited the community (like a student loan used during marriage), a judge may still order both parties to share it.
Can you divorce without splitting assets in California?
Only in rare cases. If you and your spouse agree that each person will keep their own property—and a judge approves the agreement—you might avoid dividing assets. This typically requires a valid prenuptial or postnuptial agreement or a full written settlement.
Otherwise, California’s default rule applies: any property acquired during the marriage must be split equally.
What property is not divided in a California divorce?
How can you find hidden assets during a divorce?
You can find hidden assets in a divorce by requesting financial records, hiring a forensic accountant, and tracking unusual transactions. California law requires both spouses to fully disclose their finances or face penalties and possible loss of their share of the assets.
Does my spouse get half of my 401(k) in a divorce?
In California, your spouse is typically entitled to half of any 401(k) contributions made during the marriage. That’s because California is a community property state, meaning assets earned or accrued while married generally belong equally to both spouses.
However, 401(k) funds you contributed before marriage or after separation are considered separate property and may not be divided. A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is usually required to legally divide retirement accounts without penalties.
When It’s All on the Line, This Is Who Leads the Room
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
With over 2,000 cases and more than 220 trials behind him, Alphonse Provinziano is one of California’s most trusted authorities in complex divorce, custody,
support, and property matters.
- A Former Prosecutor
- Certified Family Law Specialist
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
He brings extensive courtroom experience and strategic depth to every high-stakes family law case.
Respected by peers, sought after by clients, and featured in national media, Alphonse also teaches and presents to top family law attorneys across the U.S. and beyond.
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
Meet Alphonse Provinziano
Meet
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
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