California Divorce Battle: 'Upper-Class' Lifestyle Claim Shapes Spousal Support Fight
The claim
Kerri Abatti told a California court the marriage was upper class. She filed for divorce. She said the couple lived that way for more than three decades.
They argued over money. They sparred in filings and hearings. The house. The travel. The habits. All of it matters in court.
Why ‘standard of living’ matters
California judges listen to one clear thing: how people lived. The standard of living during the marriage sets the yardstick.
Courts use that yardstick to weigh spousal support and the division of marital assets. A luxurious life can raise the support a spouse needs to maintain a similar standard after a split.
How California law works
California is a community-property state. Income and assets earned during the marriage usually belong to both. Judges divide property with that rule in mind.
Spousal support is different. The judge considers need, ability to pay, length of marriage and the standard of living. Evidence matters. Bank statements. Credit-card bills. Travel logs. Testimony.
Long marriages change the frame
Thirty years is more than a number. It is long. Long marriages tilt courts toward sustaining the couple’s post-divorce lifestyle where possible.
For long-term marriages, judges may order support that lasts for years or even for life, depending on health, age and earning capacity. They look at retirement accounts and years out of the workforce.
What each side must prove
The spouse claiming an upper-class lifestyle must show proof. Receipts. Property records. Home appraisals. School tuition. Staff wages.
The other side can challenge those claims. They can show debts, business losses, or that spending came from nonmarital funds. They can argue that the lifestyle was inflated by loans or one-time windfalls.
Practical steps for couples and lawyers
Document everything. Keep ledgers. Keep copies of tax returns, credit statements and trust documents. Show both income and ordinary living costs.
Get appraisals and expert testimony. An accountant or forensic financial expert can track where money went. They can paint or dismantle the picture of a life lived in comfort.
What to expect next
Motions and temporary orders often come first. A judge can order temporary support while the case goes on. Settlement talks may follow. Many cases end in deals. Some go to trial.
For the public and for couples, the lesson is blunt. How you live matters. Not just for today, but for the decisions a court may make years later.