Often we help clients substantiate their separate property assets for California divorce purposes.  Our June 2013 newsletter on this topic outlines our approach to these projects.  Generally, to receive separate property in a divorce you first need to provide documentation showing you owned the asset before marriage, or you inherited them during the marriage and secondly you need to trace them from their original form (such as 100 shares of Apple) to their current form (such as cash, stock, real estate, etc.).  Without a document trail, assets are considered community property and divided.  Please see our newsletter for additional information on this topic.  Newsletter on Tracing Separate Property Assets in a Divorce.