Life is Too Short to be in the Wrong Relationship.
When the assets include business interests, real estate across multiple jurisdictions, and accounts that took decades to build, a standard divorce process rarely fits the situation. The difference between a fair resolution and a costly one often comes down to how early the financial picture gets scrutinized, and in Coral Gables, that picture is rarely simple.
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Business interests, investment portfolios, trust structures, assets across multiple jurisdictions. Ownership is layered, and untangling who owns what is rarely straightforward. That is why Cabanas Law Firm works with forensic accountants and financial professionals in Coral Gables to build a complete asset picture before your divorce reaches a courtroom.
"Sergio Cabanas and his team were very responsive, they answered all of my questions and provided updates. They are true professionals which helped me to feel confident and protected when making decisions."
What Our Clients Think of Cabanas Law Firm
Would recommend this firm to friends. I engaged them to handle making an adjustment to my divorce settlement agreement. As it was likely to cost less than the retainer in this case, they kindly agreed to refund any remaining money. They handled everything perfectly and professionally, and I’ve just received a check with the remaining funds. Thank you Cabanas
I would highly recommend attorney Sergio Cabanas to anyone going through a divorce. In fact, I’ve already referred some of my friends. His knowledge of family law was evident from the get-go and it helped me to feel confident and protected when making decisions. His communication skills are outstanding. Sergio Cabanas and his team were very responsive, they answered all of my questions and provided updates. They are true professionals.
Mauricio Cubas
My experience with Cabanas Law Firm was outstanding, thanks to Erick Estrada, the case manager, and Attorney Sergio Cabanas. Erick was incredibly supportive, keeping me informed and making sure every step of the process was smooth and stress-free. His professionalism and dedication truly set him apart. Attorney Sergio Cabanas provided expert legal guidance, ensuring the best possible outcome for my case. I highly recommend their team for anyone seeking reliable and compassionate legal assistance.
Cabanas Law Firm is amazing! The whole team is super professional and really cares about their clients. A big shoutout to Nichol, the paralegal, for being so helpful and responsive. She went above and beyond to answer my questions and provide guidance. If you need a great law firm, this is the one to go with.
Practice areas
Complex asset valuation, business interests, and equitable distribution work together in high-asset cases, since how one asset gets classified can change what the other spouse ultimately receives. Our Coral Gables high-asset divorce attorneys coordinate across these connected areas to help you maintain visibility over every moving part.
Divorce
Divorce
High NetWorth Divorce
High Net Worth Divorce
Divorce Mediation
Divorce Mediation
Alimony
Alimony
Family Law
Family Law
Your family's future shouldn't wait for We're changing how Florida does family law.
Child Custody/ Timesharing
Child Custody/ Timesharing
ChildSupport
ChildSupport
Asset & Debt Division
Asset & Debt Division
Simplified & Uncontested Divorce
Simplified & Uncontested Divorce
DomesticViolence
DomesticViolence
Your Case Won't Wait. Neither Will We.
You should not have to chase your own firm for updates or repeat your financial details to different team members who do not know your case. We built our practice to take that weight off you, not add to it. Here is how we do things differently for high-asset divorce cases in Coral Gables.
We speak your language, including Spanish, Russian, and Arabic.
This is all we do. Every resource, every team member, every case.
We have handled the full range of Florida divorce matters.
High-asset divorce in Coral Gables brings a level of financial complexity that standard proceedings rarely do, because the more you have built, the more there is to account for, value, and protect. Our Coral Gables high-net-worth divorce attorneys follow a structured process that begins with building a complete picture of every asset, every liability, and every financial arrangement that belongs in the record. We work to make sure nothing is understated, overlooked, or left open to dispute later. What you walk away with depends on how thoroughly that picture is built from the start.
Step 1
In‑Depth Discovery
There is a lot that goes into a divorce case, and the details matter more than most people expect. We learn everything we can about your situation, your family, and the other side. That preparation is where outcomes are shaped.
Built Around Your Goals
The goals you set out to achieve are what drive every decision we make, from your case evaluation through the final resolution. Every strategy, filing, and negotiation is measured against what actually matters to your family.
Life on Your Terms
We work to resolve your case with as little disruption to your life and finances as possible, so at the end of it all, it is your life on your terms.
FAQ
Trying to understand how the court handles business interests, trusts, or assets held across multiple accounts? These answers address the questions that come up when the financial picture is complex.
The legal principles are the same, but the stakes, complexity, and litigation posture are different. High net worth cases involve more assets to identify, value, and divide. Both sides are more likely to have the financial resources to litigate aggressively, which means preparation and strategy matter more than in a typical case. The approach should be to settle where possible and fight only where necessary.
A standard divorce with modest assets may involve dividing a house, a car, and a retirement account. A high net worth divorce may involve multiple properties, business interests, investment portfolios, deferred compensation, stock options, trusts, and assets held in different jurisdictions. Each asset requires identification, classification as marital or non-marital, and valuation. The more assets on the table, the more opportunities for dispute and the more expensive errors become.
The pecunious spouse, the one who controls the income and assets, often has an information advantage. The non-pecunious spouse may not even know the full scope of what exists. Closing that information gap early, through discovery, forensic accounting, and strategic preparation, is what separates a well-handled case from one that leaves money on the table.
Consult with an attorney before taking any action. There are legal steps you can take to protect your financial position, including securing access to joint accounts, documenting financial records, and timing the filing to your advantage. There are also steps that will damage your case, like draining accounts or transferring assets out of reach. An attorney can help you distinguish between the two.
If you are the higher-earning spouse, the priority is controlling access to assets and lines of credit before the filing triggers a status quo order. Once the divorce is filed, both parties are generally prohibited from dissipating assets or making unilateral financial changes. What you do before that point is governed by different rules.
If you are the financially dependent spouse, the priority is the opposite: securing enough financial stability to retain counsel and support yourself through the process. That may mean withdrawing your share from joint accounts, drawing on available credit, or gathering financial records while you still have access. The law recognizes that the non-pecunious spouse needs resources to participate in the process fairly, and there are legal mechanisms to address that imbalance. Divorce planning is a real discipline, and the earlier you start, the stronger your position.
Forensic accountants trace assets, identify hidden income, and value complex financial holdings that do not appear on a standard balance sheet. In a high net worth divorce, they are often essential because the financial picture is too complex for standard discovery alone. They analyze business records, tax returns, bank statements, and investment accounts to establish what exists and what it is worth.
Common scenarios where forensic accountants make a difference include a spouse who runs a closely held business and controls the books, investment income that does not appear on joint tax returns, assets held through trusts or LLCs, and spending patterns that suggest undisclosed income. A spouse who reports a modest salary but lives a lavish lifestyle is a classic flag.
The forensic accountant's work feeds directly into the equitable distribution analysis. If marital assets are undervalued or missing from the financial disclosures, the distribution will be skewed. Getting an accurate picture is not optional in a high net worth case. The cost of the forensic work is typically far less than the value of the assets it uncovers.
A business acquired or established during the marriage is a marital asset subject to equitable distribution. The court determines its fair market value: what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, with both having knowledge of the relevant facts. The enterprise goodwill of the business, which is its value apart from the personal reputation of the spouse who runs it, is also considered marital.
Valuing a business is one of the most contested areas in high net worth divorce. The spouse who runs the business often wants a low valuation, and the other spouse wants a high one. Business valuation experts use multiple methodologies, including income-based, asset-based, and market comparison approaches, and the results can vary significantly depending on which method is applied.
The court may also consider whether it is desirable for one spouse to retain the business without interference from the other. If both spouses continuing to co-own the business would harm its operations, the court can award it to one spouse and require an equalization payment to the other. Covenant-not-to-compete provisions may also factor into the valuation. Understanding the value of a business interest before entering negotiations is critical, because accepting an undervalued figure means leaving money on the table permanently.
Hidden assets are more common in high net worth divorces because the financial structure is more complex. The discovery process gives you the legal right to demand financial records, and forensic accountants can trace funds through bank statements, tax returns, and business records. If the court finds that one spouse intentionally concealed assets, it can impose sanctions and award an unequal distribution to the other spouse.
Common concealment tactics include understating business income, transferring assets to family members or entities, opening accounts the other spouse does not know about, deferring bonuses or compensation until after the divorce, and overpaying the IRS to receive a large refund later. A spouse who controls the finances has had years to build these structures.
The discovery process is designed to uncover them, but it requires an attorney who knows what to look for and a forensic accountant who can follow the trail. If concealment is found, the consequences go beyond just recovering the hidden assets. The court can draw adverse inferences, award attorney fees, and adjust the overall distribution to penalize the concealing party. Preserving whatever financial records you can access before the filing is one of the most important steps you can take.
Yes. If you are the financially dependent spouse, you can seek temporary support and temporary attorney fees while the case is pending. In many Florida counties, a status quo order goes into effect automatically upon filing, requiring both parties to continue paying the same household expenses they were paying before the divorce. If that is not sufficient, you can file a motion for temporary support.
The status quo order preserves the financial arrangement that existed before the filing. If the pecunious spouse was paying the mortgage, utilities, insurance, and household expenses, the order requires them to continue doing so. This prevents the higher-earning spouse from cutting off the other's financial lifeline as a litigation tactic.
If the status quo order does not cover your needs, or if your spouse was already restricting your access to finances before the filing, a motion for temporary support asks the court to set a specific amount. The court evaluates both parties' financial circumstances and can order support for living expenses and attorney fees. The non-pecunious spouse's ability to participate fairly in the process depends on having adequate resources, and the law provides mechanisms to address that imbalance. Filing promptly matters, because delay can weaken the argument for the level of support you need.
Settlement is almost always preferable if a fair outcome can be reached. Trial is expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. Judges have wide discretion in equitable distribution cases, and neither side can guarantee how a judge will value assets or apply the statutory factors. The best approach is to prepare for trial while working toward settlement, so you negotiate from a position of strength.
Mediation is required in most Florida counties before a case can go to trial, and a significant majority of divorces settle at or before mediation. In high net worth cases, the mediator often needs to understand complex financial structures, so selecting a mediator with experience in high-asset cases matters.
The decision to settle versus litigate should be strategic, not emotional. Some issues may be worth settling quickly, such as the marital home, while others may require a harder line, such as the valuation of a business. An experienced attorney helps you identify which battles are worth fighting and which concessions protect your overall position. The goal is an outcome that reflects the full value of the marital estate, reached as efficiently as the circumstances allow.
The division of complex assets, such as business interests or investment portfolios, may influence your financial standing for years to come. When you are ready to address these matters, a confidential Case Evaluation is a good way to begin.
We use this call to verify that we handle your specific type of case and confirm that you are located in a jurisdiction we serve, such as Miami-Dade County. We also check for conflicts of interest so we can assess whether our firm can handle your particular needs.
Connect with us in Coral Gables to speak with our high net worth divorce team.
The division of complex assets, such as business interests or investment portfolios, may influence your financial standing for years to come. When you are ready to address these matters, a confidential Case Evaluation is a good way to begin.
We use this call to verify that we handle your specific type of case and confirm that you are located in a jurisdiction we serve, such as Miami-Dade County. We also check for conflicts of interest so we can assess whether our firm can handle your particular needs.
Connect with us in Coral Gables to speak with our high net worth divorce team.
