Los Angeles, CA family law attorney Robyn Santucci talks about how marital property divided in a divorce. She explains that once community or marital property is clearly identified, the next step is to distinguish it from separate property and determine its value. The key questions are whether an asset is community or separate and, if it is community, what its actual worth is. Only then can the parties divide the property evenly.

Because each spouse must leave with 50% of the community estate, accurate valuation is essential. Depending on the type of asset, experts such as appraisers or accountants may be brought in to assist in determining fair value. While the principle of dividing community property equally is straightforward, the complexity often lies in characterizing and valuing the assets to ensure a fair and accurate distribution.