Divorce and Family Law Blog

August 28, 2017 / Annulment

How do Marriage Annulments Work?

The word “Annulment” refers to Catholic declaration of something as having no legal existence. It is also called ‘declaration of nullity.’ There is no definite process to declare a marriage as null. The decision of declaring a marriage as null requires a church tribunal, also known as Catholic Church Court, to declare that a marriage […]

August 10, 2017 / Divorce

Interstate Divorce Modifications And Move-Aways

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, most people move about twelve times in their adult lifetimes. Statistically, most of these moves occur before age 40, so most relocations involve minor children. Even a “local” move can upset the delicate balance that is a family’s weekly schedule, because driving from Upland to Long Beach can feel […]

July 29, 2017 / Community Property

Understanding Property Classification and Transmutation Agreements

In a California marriage, property may be classified as either community property or separate property. When you decide to get a divorce the classification of property you own is very important. Community property is generally divided between the divorcing spouses 50/50. Separate property, on the other hand, remains the sole property of the spouse to […]

July 24, 2017 / Marriage

Does California Recognize Common Law Marriages?

California is generally progressive when it comes to recognizing unions between its residents. One may think that California may be one of the few states in the country to recognize common law marriages. However, California actually takes the same view as the majority of states and (generally) does not recognize common law marriage. Common law […]

July 12, 2017 / Annulment

Getting A Marriage Annulled in California

Sometimes a divorce isn’t the best solution to a marriage that isn’t working out. If you meet certain qualifications you may be able to petition for an annulment. An annulment is similar to a divorce – in that it terminates the marriage – but is fundamentally different, as well. After a divorce is granted the […]

June 29, 2017 / Spousal Support

Understanding California Spousal Support

What is Spousal Support? Spousal support – often referred to as alimony – is generally a court-mandated requirement for one spouse to pay another spouse a set amount of money each month. Domestic partners may also be responsible for partner support at the end of a California domestic partnership. Spousal support may only be awarded […]

June 22, 2017 / Divorce

Is Social Media the Future of Serving Divorce Papers?

A Time Magazine article published in 2015 made a bold claim. Titled “You Can Now Serve Divorce Papers on Facebook,” the article discusses a New York divorce case where a wife used Facebook to serve divorce papers on her soon-to-be ex-husband. Anyone who catches a glimpse of this title may be intrigued by what the […]

March 20, 2017 / Divorce / Summary Dissolution

How to Get a Summary Dissolution of Marriage in California

Summary dissolution offers some California couples an alternative to divorce. If both spouses or partners are in complete agreement about how the marriage or domestic partnership will end, summary dissolution can be a great tool. However, if there are any disputes over property or any desire to collect spousal support, summary dissolution may not be […]

March 20, 2017 / Child Support

Does Child Support Cover Private School Tuition?

Child support often required by California courts to ensure divorced or separated parents properly and adequately provide for their children. Court-ordered financial support is intended to cover the basic costs to care for and raise a child. Costs that are typically associated with child support include housing, food, and clothing. However, other costs that are […]

March 14, 2017 / Military Divorce

California Affords Custody Protections to Military Parents

Each year, thousands of men and women in the military are deployed to serve the country. These deployments can be hard enough without the added stresses of custody and divorce battles. Unfortunately, these are realities many of our servicemen and servicewomen face. Special Federal and California state laws provide legal protections for military parents and […]