When 'Marriage Story' Is Reality: How Divorcing Couples Play Real Estate Games in L.A.
Noah Baumbach's Oscar-nominated film strikes a nerve among brokers and family lawyers, who reveal how separating spouses navigate property dilemmas in a divorce industry worth $50 billion nationwide.
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All the experts agree that it's generally better for one person to move out during divorce proceedings and avoid "nesting," which is when a couple with children remains for a period of time under the same roof. "It's more complicated. It often ends in problems," says attorney Kristina Royce, a partner at Blank Rome. While historically husbands have moved out, in recent years, a growing number of women find new addresses.
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In L.A., a few luxury rental buildings seem to attract high-net-worth divorcés. Royce says one of the most popular landing spots for a wealthy divorced man or woman is the 283-unit, 40-story Ten Thousand building at 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City. "A ton of my clients have gone there," says Royce, who notes how the building's over-the-top amenities — which include robot butlers, a Rolls-Royce valet service, a massive gym and a game room with a wet bar — attract people eager for wrap-around services and enough common space to allow for some mingling.
"When 'Marriage Story' Is Reality: How Divorcing Couples Play Real Estate Games in L.A.," by Peter Kiefer was published in The Hollywood Reporter on February 7, 2020.