Attorney Leah Choi provides California divorce property division services in Korean and English for clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Property issues may involve community and separate property, homes and equity, mortgages, retirement accounts, businesses, bank and investment accounts, debts, reimbursements, financial disclosures, and assets or records connected to Korea.
Property division analysis is easier when the assets, debts, title history, acquisition dates, payment history, and available records are organized before settlement positions are taken.
The first step is to identify what property and debt exists, how each item was acquired, what documents are available, and which issues are actually disputed.
We review when property was acquired, how it was funded, how title is held, and what records may be relevant to a community-property, separate-property, or tracing issue.
Real estate issues may involve current equity, mortgage balances, refinance questions, sale or buyout proposals, title, down-payment history, post-separation payments, and supporting records.
Retirement assets may include 401(k) plans, IRAs, pensions, and other retirement benefits. Some plans may require separate division documents or coordination with a QDRO professional.
A business interest may require review of ownership, formation dates, income records, financial statements, business accounts, compensation, and whether valuation or other professional analysis may be needed.
We review bank and brokerage accounts, stock or investment holdings, credit cards, loans, tax-related liabilities, and other debts that may need to be identified and addressed in settlement or court filings.
Some cases involve reimbursement claims, post-separation payments, or disputes about money used for property, debt, or household expenses. Financial disclosure records are often central to identifying and documenting those issues.
Korean and Korean-American divorce matters may involve Korean-language bank records, real property in Korea, Korean investment or business records, transfers between family members, or gifts and inheritance from parents or relatives.
Those facts should be identified early. California family law issues can be reviewed by the office, while Korean-law, tax, valuation, title, or enforcement questions may require coordination with qualified professionals in the appropriate jurisdiction.
A useful property review may require deeds, mortgage statements, closing records, bank and brokerage statements, retirement plan statements, tax returns, business records, loan documents, and records showing where funds came from.
Potential taxes, transaction costs, valuation issues, or retirement-plan requirements can also affect how a proposal should be evaluated. When appropriate, a CPA, appraiser, QDRO professional, or other specialist may need to be involved.
Homes, accounts, investments, retirement, businesses, vehicles, loans, credit cards, tax liabilities, and overseas assets should be identified first.
Acquisition date, source of funds, title, refinancing, transfers, gifts, inheritance, and post-separation activity may affect what records need to be reviewed.
Statements, deeds, tax returns, closing records, business records, retirement statements, and transfer records may be needed to evaluate competing positions.
The next step depends on whether the parties are exchanging information, negotiating a division, responding to a proposal, or preparing for a court filing or hearing.
Debt, transaction costs, tax consequences, retirement-plan rules, tracing, and valuation questions may materially affect how a proposed division should be reviewed.
The figures below are general planning information. A written fee agreement controls the actual scope of representation and billing terms.
In-person consultations are available by appointment at Fullerton and LA Koreatown. The Fullerton office is the firm’s main office and official mailing address.
1440 N Harbor Blvd, Suite 900
Fullerton, CA 92835
Monday–Sunday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM · By appointment
3435 Wilshire Blvd, 14th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Monday–Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Appointment only
Closed Saturday and Sunday
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Yes. Attorney Leah Choi provides California divorce property division consultations in Korean and English for clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Yes. Depending on the matter, the review may include acquisition dates, source of funds, title, transfers, payment history, and records that may be relevant to classification or tracing issues.
Real estate matters may involve equity, mortgage balances, title, refinance questions, down-payment history, sale proposals, buyout proposals, and post-separation payments. The relevant documents should be reviewed before evaluating a proposed division.
Retirement assets may require review of plan statements, dates, contributions, and the type of retirement plan. Some plans may require a separate QDRO or coordination with a QDRO professional.
Yes. Depending on the case, relevant materials may include formation records, ownership information, tax returns, financial statements, business accounts, compensation records, and other documents. A valuation professional may be needed in some matters.
Korean-language records, overseas accounts, real property, family transfers, gifts, inheritance, or business interests should be identified early. California family law issues can be reviewed, while Korean-law, tax, valuation, title, or enforcement questions may require other qualified professionals.
Debts, tax liabilities, transaction costs, and potential tax consequences can affect how a property proposal is evaluated. Tax advice may require a CPA or other qualified tax professional.
The initial retainer is generally $5,000, and attorney time is billed at $300 per hour against the retainer. The retainer is an advance deposit, not a flat fee for the entire case, and replenishment may be required.
Yes. Clients may discuss their California divorce property division matter in Korean, English, or a combination of both.
