Financial & Tax-Related Questions
Protecting your assets during a divorce — especially if you own a business, real estate, or significant investments — requires proactive legal strategy from the outset. Depending on your situation, this may involve tracing separate property, valuing complex assets accurately, negotiating strong settlement terms, or pursuing protective orders. The earlier you involve experienced legal counsel, the more options you have to shield what’s yours. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we specialize in high-net-worth divorce and can help you create a plan to protect your financial interests throughout the process.
Spousal and child support are treated differently under current tax law depending on when your divorce was finalized. We have CPAs and attorneys in house to help you understand how these rules may affect your situation.
Most divorce-related legal fees are not deductible, though there may be exceptions depending on the nature of the expense. Our CPA-attorneys can help you determine what may apply in your case.
If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets, it’s critical to work with a legal team that knows how to uncover them through formal discovery, subpoenas, forensic accounting, and expert investigation. California law requires full financial disclosure, and deliberately concealing assets can have serious legal consequences. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we have the tools and experience to identify hidden income, offshore accounts, undervalued businesses, and other concealed property — and to ensure your rights are fully protected during divorce proceedings.
Property & Support Obligations
California is a community property state, which generally means that any income or assets acquired during the marriage are considered jointly owned and subject to equal division in a divorce. However, there are exceptions — such as inheritances, gifts, or pre-marital assets — that may be classified as separate property if properly documented and maintained. There are also legal strategies that may help you protect certain earnings or investments, especially in complex or high-asset cases. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can review your financial situation and help you assert your rights while pursuing a fair and strategic outcome.
In California, spousal support is often intended to be temporary, giving the lower-earning spouse time to become self-sufficient — but the duration and amount can vary significantly based on the length of the marriage, earning capacity, and other factors. Courts may expect your spouse to make reasonable efforts to reenter the workforce, but in some cases, longer-term support may be awarded. The outcome depends heavily on the specifics of your case. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can help you understand your potential obligations and advocate for fair, balanced support terms.
Spousal support in California is influenced by a variety of factors, including both spouses’ incomes, the length of the marriage, lifestyle during the marriage, and each party’s ability to earn. While temporary support may follow a formula, long-term support is largely discretionary and based on what the court deems fair. That said, support amounts are often negotiable as part of a broader settlement, especially when complex assets or other trade-offs are involved. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can evaluate your financial picture and help you pursue support terms that align with your goals.
In some situations, a significant income increase could lead to a modification request. We can review your agreement and advise you on whether you may be affected.
If one spouse wants to keep the family home, they may need to buy out the other’s community interest or offset it with other marital assets — assuming the home is community property. Whether that’s feasible depends on the home’s equity, existing mortgage, and each party’s financial situation. In some cases, selling the home and dividing the proceeds may be the more practical solution. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can help you understand your options and negotiate a resolution that protects your financial interests and long-term stability.
Custody & Parental Rights
Custody decisions in California are based on the best interests of the child, which include factors like the child’s health, safety, emotional needs, and each parent’s ability to provide a stable environment. The court generally favors arrangements that support frequent and meaningful contact with both parents, when appropriate. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can help you present a clear, compelling case that prioritizes your child’s well-being while protecting your parental rights.
A demanding job alone doesn’t automatically disqualify a parent from custody, but it may factor into the court’s analysis of availability and consistency. Courts look at the whole picture, including the quality of the parent-child relationship and whether a workable schedule can be established. If custody is at risk, Kaspar & Lugay LLP can help you build a strategy that reflects your commitment to your children despite professional obligations.
Allegations of domestic violence are taken seriously by the court and can significantly affect custody outcomes. In many cases, the court may limit or supervise visitation if it believes the child’s safety or emotional well-being is at risk. If these issues are part of your case, Kaspar & Lugay LLP can help you navigate the legal implications and protect both your rights and your child’s safety.
If you and your spouse reach a full custody agreement, you can often avoid a courtroom battle by submitting a stipulation to the court for approval. While a judge must formally approve the agreement to make it legally binding, the process is typically straightforward when both parties are in agreement. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can help you draft a clear, enforceable agreement that reflects your shared understanding and protects your interests.
If your ex-spouse violates the custody order, you may be able to request court enforcement or a modification of the arrangement. Repeated violations can carry legal consequences and may impact future custody rights. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, we can help you take the necessary legal steps to enforce your agreement and protect your time with your children.
Legal Process & Strategy
Divorce in California takes a minimum of six months, but the process can take longer depending on the complexity of your case. We can help you anticipate timelines and avoid unnecessary delays.
Yes, many divorce terms — especially spousal or child support — can be modified if there’s been a substantial change. We can guide you through the process if a modification is needed.
In California, both terms refer to the same obligation, but “spousal support” is the legal term used in state law. We can explain how it applies to your specific agreement.
At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, your legal team typically includes a lead attorney who manages your case strategy, a supporting attorney or associate who assists with filings and research, and a paralegal who handles day-to-day communications and document preparation. In complex matters, we may also collaborate with financial experts, forensic accountants, or custody specialists to strengthen your position. We tailor your team to the needs of your case to ensure both efficiency and expertise.
In many cases, especially those that settle outside of litigation, your attorney can appear on your behalf for procedural matters. However, certain hearings — such as those involving testimony or contested issues — may require your presence. We do everything we can to minimize courtroom involvement where appropriate, and we’ll advise you when your participation is necessary.
K&L Specific Questions
What sets Kaspar & Lugay LLP apart is our unique combination of legal skill, financial insight, and strategic focus on high-net-worth divorce. Founded by attorneys with backgrounds in both law and finance — including a CPA-attorney — our firm is built to handle complex asset division, business valuations, and tax-sensitive matters with precision. We limit our caseload to provide hands-on, responsive service, and we’re known for delivering results with discretion, efficiency, and unwavering advocacy. Simply put, we bring the sophistication of a large firm with the personal attention of a boutique practice.
Having a divorce attorney who’s also a CPA brings a deeper understanding of the financial complexities that often arise in high-net-worth cases. This dual expertise allows for more precise analysis of tax exposure, business valuations, asset tracing, and support calculations — all within the legal context. At Kaspar & Lugay LLP, this combined perspective enables us to offer more strategic and financially sound representation.
