Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Social Media Influencers

Orange County Divorce Attorney for Social Media Influencers

In California, countless residents make money from social media. Influencers can range from travel experts and foodies to health and beauty stars or medical personnel. While many people believe social media presence and following are too nuanced to have a value in a divorce. This is not the case. An experienced Orange County divorce lawyer for social media influencers can help you understand how your influencer status can impact a divorce.

​Minyard Morris: Your Dedicated Orange County Divorce Firm

If you’re a social media influencer considering divorce, an Orange County divorce lawyer for social media influencers from Minyard Morris can help you strategically address the issues. Our experienced lawyers share over 350 years of comprehensive legal experience and have successfully managed a myriad of complex divorces for more than 48 years.

Minyard Morris is committed to confidentiality, which is essential when dealing with clients whose assets revolve around their public persona. We understand how complicated, emotional, and overwhelming a divorce can become and are ready to stand as your assertive legal advocates.  The 19 divorce lawyers at Minyard Morris can provide you with the support, resources, and representation you need to ensure your work is protected.

Influencer and Divorce Statistics in California

Social media influencers, or “influencers,” are digital creators. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube, they create content that appeals to a certain portion of the population. This makes them valuable to marketers who want more eyes on their products. Consequently, monetizing content and brand deals have become massive tools for influencers.

With the growing prevalence of monetizing social media platforms, influencer work has become a lucrative career opportunity worldwide. In fact, some data shows that 15% of influencers earn over $100,000 per year.

It’s estimated that over two million influencers alone live in California. In addition to having some of the most successful influencers in the country, California also has some of the highest divorce rates in the nation. With the large number of influencers making money throughout the state, influencer divorces are becoming more common, causing more concerns to arise over the correct division of assets involving social media influencers.

How Are Social Media Assets Valued in an Orange County Divorce?

Since influencers earn their income from their social media accounts, those accounts are considered assets in a divorce. Our experienced lawyers can help you take the right approach to ensure you maximize your earning potential while still emphasizing the potential losses that come with your career.

You should first identify whether your social media business is separate or community. If the account is considered community, it will likely lead to one spouse receiving the business and the other being paid an equalization payment equal to 50% of the value. Similar challenges arise when valuing other digital assets like cryptocurrency in California divorces. When valuing a social media business in a divorce, the following elements will be considered:

• Followers (including likes, comments, and engagement)
• If both spouses are involved in online content, and whether the content is more valuable when the couple is together
• Brand equity (marketability)
• Contracts (partnerships, brand deals, etc.)
• When the bulk of followers was acquired
• How quickly the account is growing

Each of these valuation factors can have significant tax implications that affect your financial settlement.

Community Property Laws and Social Media Accounts in California

Given the number of adults in the United States who rely on social media, an influencer’s ability to sway public opinion or consumer buying power can be considered a large part of their money-making capabilities. Accurately accounting for that requires a nuanced approach. Accurately accounting for that requires a nuanced approach, as there are many financial ramifications to consider beyond just the account value. Since California Family Code 760 states that California is a community property state, a detailed timeline of your social media rise is essential for fair property division.

Dividing a social media influencer’s business according to California law requires an acute understanding of how community property works. Any assets acquired before the marriage belong to the individual. Likewise, any assets gained after the date of separation are also considered separate property.

Assets acquired during the marriage, unless they were gained using separate resources such as a separate bank account, an inheritance, or a gift, are generally considered community property. If you have worked tirelessly on a social media business that your spouse only recently began to benefit from once you got married, it’s essential that you hire a lawyer who can help you identify separate and community property in your divorce.

​Hire an Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Social Media Influencers

At Minyard Morris, our experienced divorce lawyers have been providing superior family law services to residents of Orange County for almost five decades. We understand how hard social media influencers work to create the platforms they have, which is why we use our comprehensive knowledge of state laws to ensure your interests and accounts are protected throughout your divorce.

Operating exclusively in Orange County, California for the over 48 years, Minyard Morris is recognized as an award-winning firm that is aggressive and ethical. We have a strong familiarity with the Orange County Superior Court as well as a deep understanding of the rules, preferences, and customs of the judges who operate there. We also work to keep our clients’ legal proceedings completely confidential, especially while an audience may be trying to dig into their lives.

Experienced Divorce Lawyers for Social Media Influencers in Orange County

Divorce laws in Orange County are already complex, let alone when you’re dealing with modern assets and issues that aren’t addressed in statues or appellate cases. If you’re a social media influencer going through a divorce in Orange County, it’s crucial that you work with an experienced divorce lawyer from our firm. We can stand as your legal advocates throughout every proceeding and fight to protect your platform and the earnings that come with it.

Contact us today to learn more about our trusted divorce services for social media influencers in Orange County. Our experienced attorneys meet weekly to strategize, discuss new legislation, and improve our skills. Don’t wait to see how we can help you today.