How Courts Decide Jurisdiction in International Divorce Cases
Though most Americans don’t know a couple engaged in an international family law case, the incidence of these cases is increasing. Globalization of the worldwide business community is an obvious explanation, along with the increased international travel and international relationships that come with it. But international marriages and the families they produce have unique challenges […]
You Don’t Have to Be a Billionaire to Need a High-Asset Divorce Lawyer
In wealth management circles, $5 million in liquid assets is generally considered to define the low end of the very high net worth spectrum. California has the largest population of very high net worth people in the country. Of the roughly 80,000 of them who call California home, only 200 or so are billionaires. And […]
How Courts Treat Carried Interest in Divorce Cases
There’s a lot of buzz in California about carried interest these days. You’d think it was a new thing. Carried interest has actually been around for centuries as a means of monetizing risk. In Alexandre Dumas’ 19th century novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, shipping merchants faced multiple forms of risk due to weather, shipwreck, […]
Why Privacy Matters in a High-Profile Divorce Case
There was a time when a privacy breach was the work of a highly trained investigator. But with the rise of generative AI, the threat of identity theft and hacking, and the increasing presence of surveillance cameras, privacy has never been more challenging to protect. Amy Laughlin, Founder and Managing Partner of Laughlin Legal Divorce […]
Dealing With a Runaway Child During or After Divorce
Amy Laughlin, Founder and Partner at Laughlin Legal Divorce & Family Law Group, a California high net worth and ultra high net worth divorce and child custody law firm, has handled quite a few child custody cases with a runaway child. Why do they do it? “Kids who run away from home during or after […]
What Should You Look for in a High-Net-Worth Divorce Attorney?
There’s been a significant increase in the volume of high net worth divorce cases in California attributable to growth in Silicon Valley and the complex executive compensations that are a common feature of these divorces. Not surprisingly, there’s also been an increase in the number of attorneys in Northern California doing this work. And of […]
How to File for Divorce While Living Abroad
A Q&A about how to file for divorce while living abroad with Amy Laughlin. International divorce or divorce involving spouses who live in different jurisdictions is becoming increasingly common, particularly in states like California which attracts residents from around the globe. And yet, few people seem to have a clear understanding of what that means. […]
How High Asset Divorce Attorneys Value Complex Assets During Divorce
Ideally, all high asset divorce attorneys in California would be very experienced with complex asset valuation because it almost invariably comes with the territory. Amy Laughlin, Founder and Managing Partner at Laughlin Legal Divorce and Family Law in San Mateo has been handling these cases for quite some time and has a particular affection for […]
Who You Hire Matters
How to find the best family law attorney: A few of the most common Q’s and How To’s Maybe you’re recently separated and you expect your soon-to-be-ex will make divorce proceedings difficult. Or maybe you believe your ex is underpaying child support. Or maybe you’re getting married and you need a rock solid prenup. A […]
Smoother Path to Divorce Through Joint Petitions Starting January 2026
California divorce law changes in 2026! California, the first state to legalize ‘no fault’ divorce in 1969, has taken another significant step toward making divorce in California more cooperative and less adversarial. As of January 2026, a new law, Senate Bill 1427, allows for a ‘joint petition for dissolution of marriage’. Amy Laughlin, Founder, Partner, […]