Why Mediation May Be Your Best Option in a High-Asset, Multi-Million-Dollar Divorce in California
High-asset divorces are different. You may have businesses, stock options, trusts, multiple homes, and complex tax issues. Mediation helps you solve these problems privately and with more control.
Instead of arguing in open court, you and your spouse meet with a neutral mediator to reach a balanced deal. The process is flexible and fits your schedules. Many couples cut stress, protect privacy, and close their case faster—often at a lower total cost. Continue reading to learn more about why you should choose mediation in a high-asset divorce case.
Privacy and Confidentiality
California strongly protects the privacy of mediation. What you say in mediation is generally confidential and not used in court if talks break down. That matters when your life includes trade secrets, company records, or sensitive financial details.
Mediation also keeps most personal information out of public files. You can share documents, explore creative options, and negotiate freely. Drafts and settlement ideas stay within the room, encouraging open and honest problem-solving.
Control and Flexibility Over Complex Assets
In court, a judge must apply strict community property rules. In mediation, you keep more control and can shape solutions that match your goals. You can trade assets to fit your plan—one spouse keeps the business while the other receives cash, investments, or real estate that equalize value.
You can also set buyout timelines, tax-smart transfers, and safeguards for future vesting events. Because you design the plan together, the final agreement often fits your life far better than a one-size-fits-all court order. That means fewer surprises later.
What You Can Settle in Mediation
Here are common issues you can resolve in mediation—even in complex, high-asset cases:
- Division of homes, rentals, and vacation properties
- Business valuation methods and buyout terms
- Stock options, RSUs, bonuses, and carried interest
- Tracing, reimbursements, and separate property claims
- Spousal support amount, duration, and step-downs
- Parenting schedules, travel, and decision-making
- Confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses
These items can be tailored in as much detail as your estate requires.
Faster Timelines and Lower Costs
A court fight in a multi-million-dollar case can drag on for years with many hearings and discovery battles. Mediation moves on your calendar and focuses only on what is truly disputed. Experts can be used efficiently to speed decisions and reduce fees.
Shorter timelines also lower stress on your family. When both sides engage early and share information, many high-asset cases settle in months, not years. You keep momentum and preserve energy for life after divorce.
Full Financial Disclosure Still Applies—And Protects You
Mediation is not a shortcut around financial disclosure. California requires each spouse to exchange complete and accurate financial information. You will still gather tax returns, statements, business records, and valuations.
The difference is how you use them. In mediation, disclosures help you test options and price fair trades. Neutral experts can value companies, real estate, and equity awards so the final deal is durable and harder to challenge later.
Spousal Support You Can Right-Size
Support in high-asset cases depends on many factors, including income, the marital standard of living, skills, and the length of the marriage. Mediation lets you apply those factors in practical, creative ways. You can build step-downs, review dates, or buyout structures that fit your tax picture and cash flow.
If one spouse is reentering the workforce, you can set milestones. Clear rules reduce future conflict and keep both sides on track. That stability is worth real money over time.
When Mediation May Not Fit
Mediation may not be right if there is hiding of assets, a serious power imbalance, or safety concerns. In those situations, court protections may be necessary. Some couples use a private temporary judge for faster rulings on limited issues while continuing to mediate the rest.
The key is choosing the process that best manages risk. Even if a judge must decide one question, mediation can still settle everything else. That approach keeps costs down and momentum up.
Contact the Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers at Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers for Help Today
If you’re facing a high-asset, multi-million-dollar divorce in California, our team at Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers can guide you through disclosures, valuations, and smart settlement design.
Our Los Angeles divorce attorneys will help you use mediation to protect privacy, reduce cost, and close your case with confidence. For more information, contact our experienced Los Angeles divorce lawyers at Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers by calling (310) 271-6290 to schedule a consultation.
We serve all through Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, and its surrounding areas. Visit any of our offices at:
Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles Office
550 S. Hill Street STE 1467
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 277-2586
Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers Beverly Hills Office
9465 Wilshire Blvd #333
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(213) 277-2586