Divorce and Family Law Blog

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 […]

February 25, 2017 / Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements

What To Include In A Prenuptial Agreement

Most often, couples enter into prenuptial agreements to designate and divide assets in the event the marriage ends. Overall, prenuptial agreements address financial issues going into marriage. When properly prepared, they prove useful in sorting out conflicts before they arise and potentially saving time and money bypassing court property division decisions in divorce or probate […]

February 8, 2017 / Divorce

Alternatives To Divorce Litigation

If your considering a divorce but are concerned with going to court, then there are two alternatives you should consider: (1) Mediation, or (2) Collaborative Law. Mediation Mediation is a negotiation between you, your spouse, and a neutral third party (known as the mediator). The mediator does not make a decision, but rather helps the […]