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Led by Certified Family Law Specialist Patrick Baghdaserians, the Baghdaserians Law Group is a law firm dedicated to family law mediation and litigation. For over a decade, we have dedicated our practice to families, making hundreds of court appearances involving virtually all aspects of family law. The experience and passion that our Southern California divorce lawyers have for this field truly set us apart from our competitors. During this time, we have garnered the respect of judges and peers while obtaining favorable results for our clients.
Pasadena Divorce Attorney
The Baghdaserians Law Group specializes in handling all aspects of sophisticated and complex marital dissolution (divorce) issues, including, but not limited to, child support determination, child custody and visitation, modification of child custody or visitation orders, spousal support determination, modification of spousal support orders, division of property, business valuation, financial tracing issues, and fiduciary duty violations. In addition, our Pasadena divorce attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, has extensive experience handling paternity matters, cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction cases, custody disputes involving alleged alcohol or drug abusers, and child custody move-away requests. We have also drafted, analyzed, and sometimes prosecuted pre- and post-marital agreements (prenup and postnup).
Firm Principal Patrick Baghdaserians – an experienced divorce attorney in Pasadena understands and appreciates complex forensic accounting and formal discovery-related issues and has thus been previously appointed as a Special Magistrate (Discovery Referee) by the Los Angeles Superior Court. We have successfully propounded and pursued discovery rights against multiple large, closely held corporations. Recently, we successfully pursued discovery rights against one of the largest closely held corporations in Los Angeles County.
We also offer a unique level of experience in dependency law. Daniel Leonetti, one of our dedicated lawyers, has practiced dependency law for several years, during which time he garnered unparalleled experience dealing with highly sensitive and complex child custody and visitation issues. If you are in Southern California and need a skilled divorce attorney, Baghdaserians Law Group is here to help!
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Patrick BaghdaseriansCFLS,Firm Principal
Ask the Expert: Know Your Rights & The Complexities Of Family Law & How To Choose The Right Attorney
Managing Partner Patrick Baghdaserians makes a guest appearance on an episode of “The Balancing Act.” Click play to watch!
Divorce Cases We Specialize In
High Net Worth Divorce
In high net worth divorces, significant assets such as real estate, business interests, investments, retirement accounts, and luxury goods divide. These are the complex circumstances that require financial analysis to ensure equitable distribution under the applicable standards. Spouses in high net worth divorces may have difficulties identifying hidden assets, valuing distinctive items such as artwork or rare collectibles, and dealing with tax issues. Given the high stakes, you must consult our experienced Pasadena divorce attorney to safeguard your rights and reach a fair result.
in high net worth divorce the privacy is a fundamental concern, as public hearings may reveal sensitive financial information. Couples may choose alternate dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation or arbitration, to keep negotiations discreet. In these circumstances Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements frequently play an important role. As a professional divorce attorney in Pasadena, Patrick Baghdaserians can assist you in navigating these legal complexities while protecting your financial future and ensuring confidentiality throughout the process.
Contested Divorce
When spouses cannot agree on one or more key issues, a contested divorce occurs. The key issues include asset division, child custody, alimony, or support. Here, the court comes into play to resolve the key issues between spouses. The overall process can be time-consuming, emotionally taxing, and costly, as it often involves multiple court hearings, discovery procedures, and negotiations. Each spouse typically hires an attorney to advocate for their interests, and the court ultimately makes the final decisions based on the evidence presented.
When children and complex assets are involved, the emotional and financial costs in a contested divorce can be significant. The adversarial nature of a contested divorce often exacerbates tensions between spouses, making resolution more difficult. However, contested divorce also allows you to fight for your rights and interests when an agreement cannot be reached. It’s crucial to work with our expert Pasadena divorce attorney, guide you through this complex situation, protect your assets, and ensure that your best interests are represented in court.
Uncontested Divorce
When both spouses agree on all major factors for their separation, like child custody, property division, and spousal support, the contested divorce occurs. Because of the mutual understanding of both members, this divorce is often faster and less expensive. This makes it an appealing option for couples who can communicate effectively and amicably resolve their differences. However, even in an uncontested divorce, it is essential to draft a thorough settlement agreement to prevent future disputes.
Uncontested divorce is straightforward still there are some considerations. Fair division of assets between spouses. If one side fails to disclose information or coerces the other into signing an agreement, the settlement may be contested in court. Furthermore, couples having children should emphasize developing a thorough parenting plan that addresses both urgent and long-term requirements. An uncontested divorce is often the best choice for couples seeking a cooperative and cost-effective resolution.
LGBT Divorce
There are many similarities between LGBT divorce and traditional divorce. However, due to inconsistent state laws, marriage equality has been federally recognized since 2015; same-sex couples may face complexities, especially regarding child custody and property division. Issues can arise when one partner is a biological parent and the other is an adoptive parent. Because of these complex factors, LGBT couples always seek legal consultation with our Pasadena divorce attorney to ensure their parental rights.
Because of many challenges like social stigma and less family support, the LGBT divorce always brings emotional challenges. Some couples encounter discrimination during the divorce process; others may face less judgment and add more stress in this difficult time. Working with legal professionals experienced in these types of divorces safeguarding their rights.
Military Divorce
Unlike civilian divorce, military divorce involves many legal and logistical challenges. Members involved in the service and their spouses navigate state and federal laws, like the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA), which governs the division of military retirement pay. Because military families move frequently, Jurisdiction can complicate the process. The particular state to file for divorce is critical because it affects issues such as spousal support, child custody, and asset allocation. Deployments and active-duty commitments may cause delays in court processes, necessitating changes under the Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to protect service members’ legal rights.
Due to the unpredictability of deployments and relocations, Visitation in military divorce requires flexible arrangements. Military benefits, such as TRICARE, commissary privileges, and housing allowances, are central considerations, particularly when determining support for a non-military spouse. Due to these complex issues, service members and their spouses should work with experienced divorce professionals experienced in military divorce to ensure compliance with the law.
Spousal Support
There are two types of spousal support payments in the State of California: temporary spousal support and long-term spousal support.
California courts have consistently maintained that the duty of the court in establishing temporary spousal support is to render a fair and appropriate order to reflect parties’ financial circumstances at or near the time of separation. In most cases, the dissomaster, a computer program used by the Los Angeles County, calculates spousal support status by simply plugging numbers into a guideline calculation. This really does away with much of the court’s discretion and an attorney’s ability to advocate. In some cases, however, the use of the dissomaster can render unfair and inappropriate support orders, thus necessitating the trial court’s intervention. For decades, the courts have consistently upheld and promoted the trial court’s exercise of wide discretion when rendering a temporary spousal support order. In re Marriage of Dick (1993) 15 Cal.App. 4th 144, 165. While exercising said discretion, courts can be called upon to look away from guideline formula calculation, and instead focus on relevant and equitable facts presented in the case at hand. In re Marriage of Dick (1993) 15 Cal.App. 4th 144, 160-165; In re Marriage of Burlini (1983) 143 Cal. App. 3d 65, 70.
Long term spousal support orders are usually rendered at the end of the case. It can be ordered based on stipulation of the parties or judicial determination. If the court is called upon to make a determination, it must utilize and consider each of the factors outlined in Family Code Section 4320. One of these enumerated factors is the standard of living established during the marriage. Although other factors may exist, case law has recognized that the standard of living established during the marriage is the threshold mark or reference point by which all other factors are measured. In re Marriage of Nelson (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 1546, 1560. This is a fact driven analysis by the court. The 4320 factors include, but are not limited to, income, assets, expenses, marital standard of living, etc.
Child Custody
Family Code Section 3022 provides the court with authority to make an order for the custody of a minor child that seems necessary and proper during the pendency of a proceeding or at any time thereafter. California family law courts use Family Code Section 3040 to establish the order of preference in granting custody in divorce actions. The first section of this code provides that “Custody should be granted in the following order of preference according to the best interest of the child as provided in Sections 3011 and 3020.”
Parties involved in a custody dispute would be wise to review Family Code Sections 3011 and 3020. After all, since these two sections outline the criteria that California judges use when determining custody disputes, parties to such actions should consider what facts apply to these code sections. If there are facts that do not apply to the criteria that judges use, they may not be relevant. Focusing on irrelevant facts may distract the Court from focusing on relevant facts that will help carry the day. Attorneys who exclusively practice in the area of family law will know how to take unique facts of individual custody disputes and demonstrate to the Court how those facts apply to the factors found in Sections 3011 and 3020.
Property Transfer During a Marriage
Under California Divorce law, a valid transmutation is a written agreement to change the ownership characterization of a property. In order to comply with the law, said the agreement must satisfy the requirements of Family Code Section 852. California Divorce Law takes changing property ownership during a marriage very seriously. The legislature (the people who create the code sections we follow) does not want anyone to slip into a transmutation. Transparency is the name of the game. Trickery does not belong here!
Business Valuation & Division
Business valuation can be best described as an exercise in creative accounting. In determining a business value, California courts generally utilize an excess earnings method. This method involves a two-step process. First, the court looks to the tangible assets of the business. Assets encompass anything from furniture, automobiles, and even accounts receivables that have yet to be collected. Discounts can be given for various factors (i.e. depreciation, collectability of an account receivable). Second, the court looks to the goodwill of the business. Goodwill generally involves an analysis of business earnings (salary + perquisites) multiplied by a capitalization rate. The capitalization rate usually depends on the type of business and its stability, or lack thereof. Once the net asset and goodwill figures are determined, the court will usually end up adding the two figures.
California case law has held that only a business can have goodwill. If one is not engaged in a business, then there can be no goodwill to divide. In the 2005 California case of Mctiernan vs. Dubrow, husband, John McTiernan, a famous Hollywood director (Die Hard, The Hunt For Red October) successfully challenged a lower court’s ruling regarding the nature of his activities as a movie director. Once he was able to demonstrate that his activities were not akin to a business, the court of appeals held that goodwill could not possibly be attributed to his activities. Consequently, there was nothing to divide! This is an intense fact-based analysis. If you wish to prevail using a Mctiernan argument, be ready to put on your evidence.
Mandatory Disclosure in Family Law
Family Code Section 721 (b) provides in pertinent part that, “a husband and wife are subject to the general rules governing fiduciary relationships which control the actions of persons occupying confidential relations with each other,” and that the fiduciary relationship “imposes a duty of the highest good faith and fair dealing on each spouse”. Among other things, the rights and duties of spouses in a fiduciary relationship include “rendering upon request, true and full information of all things affecting any transaction which concerns the community property”.
If a party fails to comply with section 721, the court shall, in addition to any other remedy provided by law, impose money sanctions against the noncomplying party. Sanctions shall be in an amount sufficient to deter repetition of the conduct. Family Code Section 2107 (c).
Civil Discovery in Family Law
The Civil Discovery Act applies to Family Law proceedings. The Civil Discovery Act, as provided for in the California Code of Civil Procedure, helps prevent improper gamesmanship and “gotcha” litigation. In responding to formal discovery, the code requires parties to follow basic rules in providing clear and concise responses. Each and every section dealing with discovery demands outlines the process, the consequences of untimely and evasive responses, and provides the propounding party an opportunity to seek enforcement. When a party seeks to circumvent this process by failing to provide proper code compliant responses, the Court has wide discretion and authority to render appropriate orders to remedy the situation.
Call Our Family Law
Attorneys Today
Our dedicated Pasadena divorce attorneys at Baghdaserians Law Group have handled family law cases throughout California. Over the past few years, we have represented clients in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, and Alameda.
We have never shied away from a challenge. Quite often, we have taken cases deemed too complex or contentious by our colleagues and were ultimately referred to our office. We take great pride in knowing that our competitors are referring to their complex cases for us to take on. Most recently, we successfully challenged a trial court’s ruling on the issue of real property characterization and division. In 2019, this decision was published by the California Court of Appeal, 2nd District, Begian v. Sarajian (2018) 31 Cal.App.5th 506. Some of our colleagues deemed this case “too close to call.” Undeterred, we moved forward and won, reversing an error made by the trial judge.
No case is too big or too complex for the Baghdaserians Law Group. We strive for excellence and thrive in the face of adversity. The Baghdaserians Law Group is committed to obtaining the results our clients seek. We will never compromise that goal. If you are looking for skilled divorce attorneys to handle your matter,
call or email us for an immediate consultation.
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