A rare combination of legal and financial credentials for Venice clients facing divorce, property division, and complex financial matters.

When a legal matter involves money — a business, a tax question, a disputed valuation, a complicated marital estate — the attorney handling it usually has to bring in an accountant to make sense of the numbers. At Skarin Law Group, that step isn’t necessary. Firm founder Matthew Skarin is both a licensed attorney and a Certified Public Accountant, giving Venice clients a single point of contact who understands the legal strategy and the financial detail behind it at the same time. If you are searching for an attorney CPA in Venice, CA, contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss your situation.

What Is an Attorney CPA, and Why Does It Matter?

An attorney CPA is a licensed attorney who is also a Certified Public Accountant. It’s an uncommon pairing. There are more than 170,000 licensed attorneys in California, and fewer than 1,500 have earned the family law bar’s Certified Family Law Specialist designation. Within that small group, Matthew Skarin stands out further as the only one who also holds a CPA license — and, on top of that, a California Real Estate Broker license as well.

That combination matters because legal problems and financial problems are often the same problem viewed from two different angles. A divorce isn’t just a legal proceeding; it’s also a financial event that touches taxes, retirement accounts, and business value. A business dispute isn’t just about contract language; it’s about what the numbers in the ledger actually show. An attorney CPA reviews both sides of the case personally, rather than relying on legal training alone or handing the financial analysis to a separate expert partway through the case.

Areas Where an Attorney CPA Makes the Biggest Difference

Divorce and Property Division

California is a community property state, and dividing a marital estate accurately requires more than reading a bank statement. Our firm has extensive experience reviewing financial records, tax filings, and asset documentation during property division cases, and a strong background in forensic accounting helps us identify and evaluate marital assets that might otherwise be overlooked. When divorce involves a business, investment portfolio, or real estate holdings, having an attorney who can read the financial statements as fluently as the legal filings changes what’s possible in negotiation.

High Net Worth and Business Valuation Matters

Divorces and disputes involving significant assets require a more thorough review of finances than standard matters. An attorney CPA is positioned to pinpoint legal, accounting, and tax issues that could negatively affect a client’s interests before they become costly. This is especially valuable for business owners, investors, and executives whose compensation or ownership interests are not straightforward to value.

Tax Issues Tied to Legal Matters

Legal outcomes often carry tax consequences that are easy to miss without accounting training. Property transfers, support payments, and business restructuring can all trigger tax questions, and an attorney who understands both sides can flag those issues early rather than after a settlement is finalized.

Spousal Support Calculations and Modifications

Spousal support cases often turn on a detailed review of income, expenses, and long-term financial needs. When an ex-spouse requests a modification, that request typically involves a close look at financial circumstances, and a CPA’s training in reading financial documents helps identify discrepancies or issues that could affect the outcome, including concealed income or an inflated claim of increased earning capacity.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement that only addresses legal terms and ignores the financial realities behind them is more likely to be challenged later. We draft and review these agreements with both angles in mind, addressing property division, separate versus community assets, and the financial rights tied to a business or real estate.

Why Choose Skarin Law Group as Your Venice Attorney CPA

Matthew Skarin’s Credentials

Matthew Skarin, President of Skarin Law Group, holds a combination of credentials no other attorney in California holds together:

• Certified Family Law Specialist, a designation held by fewer than 1,500 of California’s more than 170,000 licensed attorneys.
• Certified Public Accountant, with a professional background that includes work at Deloitte & Touche and other accounting firms performing tax and compliance work before he attended law school.
• California Real Estate Broker, adding a further layer of insight when real estate holdings are part of a case.

He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, has been named a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine every year from 2020 through 2024, holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and carries a 10.0 rating on Avvo.

Financial Insight From the First Meeting

Because Matthew reviews the financial side of a case personally, issues that might otherwise surface late in a case tend to come up during the first consultation instead. That early insight allows clients to manage their expectations realistically and to make decisions with a clearer sense of where the case is likely headed.

Fifteen Years of Focused Family and Financial Practice

Our firm has spent fifteen years working at the intersection of family law and financial complexity. That focus, paired with Matthew’s accounting background, means Venice clients get a legal team that treats the numbers in their case with the same rigor as the law.

What an Attorney CPA Reviews During Your Case

A thorough financial review is part of nearly every case we handle. Depending on your situation, that review may include:

• Tax returns, both personal and business, going back several years
• Bank, brokerage, and retirement account statements
• Business financial records, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets
• Documentation of executive compensation, stock options, or deferred bonuses
• Real estate holdings and their current valuations
• Existing prenuptial, postnuptial, or other financial agreements

Reviewing this material early lets us flag tax exposure, undervalued assets, or inconsistencies in disclosed income before they become a problem later in the case.

What to Bring to Your Consultation

Coming prepared allows us to give you useful, specific guidance from the first meeting rather than general advice. Helpful items include:

• Any tax returns or financial statements relevant to your matter
• Existing legal documents, such as a prenuptial agreement, prior court order, or contract in dispute
• A summary of the assets or financial issues involved
• Any documentation related to a business, investment, or real estate holding at issue

The first consultation is a working conversation. We will review what you bring, explain how both the legal and financial sides of California law apply to your case, and outline a realistic path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working With an Attorney CPA

How is an attorney CPA different from a regular attorney who works with an accountant?

When an attorney and an accountant work as two separate professionals, information has to pass between them, and each one sees only part of the picture. An attorney CPA reviews the legal and financial details personally and simultaneously, which tends to surface issues earlier and reduces the chance that something gets lost between two separate advisors.

Do I need an attorney CPA if my case doesn’t involve a business?

Financial complexity isn’t limited to business owners. Retirement accounts, investment portfolios, tax questions, and real estate holdings all benefit from financial review, even in cases that look straightforward on the surface.

Can an attorney CPA help if I suspect my spouse is hiding assets?

Yes. A background in forensic accounting is directly useful for identifying undisclosed income, unusual account activity, or asset transfers that don’t match a spouse’s stated financial picture.

Does working with an attorney CPA cost more than a standard family law attorney?

We bill hourly and work on evergreen retainers, and we explain the fee structure clearly at your first meeting. Many clients find that catching financial issues early ends up protecting far more value than it costs.

Is Matthew Skarin licensed to practice both law and accounting in California?

Yes. He is a licensed California attorney, a Certified Public Accountant, and a Certified Family Law Specialist, and he also holds a California Real Estate Broker license.

Reach Out to Skarin Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

Legal and financial questions rarely stay separate for long, especially in family law matters. Our Venice attorney CPA brings both sides of your case under one roof, from the first consultation through resolution. We bill hourly with evergreen retainers, and we will walk you through the fee structure at your first meeting. Contact us to schedule a consultation and speak with a Venice attorney CPA who handles these cases every day.