A married couple’s family home, like other property, is subject to California’s community property laws. In practice, this means that in most divorce cases, each spouse will be entitled to half the equity in their home, assuming they acquired the home together. What...
California Family Law Blog
Recent poll blames debt for a substantial number of divorces
California couples get divorced for many reasons. Some are sudden and others happen over time. Infidelity is often viewed as a reason why people decide to move on from their marriage. This can come in many forms. Increasingly, financial infidelity is leading to people...
Can we modify our child support order if I lose my job?
For California parents paying child support, job loss can have a compounding effect. What you may not realize is that if you fall behind on child support, the consequences only escalate. This is why understanding the process of modifying child support orders in such...
Dividing debt can be a worrisome part of a divorce
In California family law cases, property division is often a topic for dispute. People will generally want to retain as much as possible and strive to reach what they believe is a fair resolution. What many people might forget is that debt will also be divided. This...
Understanding divorce mediation and arbitration
If you are going through a divorce, you may have been asked to participate in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), a term for certain an out-of-court techniques used to resolve conflicts. There are two main types that are useful to understand: mediation and...
Why is the divorce rate for older Americans rising?
Any given divorce case in California while be very fact-specific in terms of how the case proceeds and, ultimately, how it is decided. No two cases are the same. However, the same legal issues are present in many divorce cases: child custody, child support, alimony...
Addressing contentious child support issues in a divorce
Among all of the possible legal issues that might come up in a divorce case in California, child support oftentimes has a way of stirring up the most contentious feelings between the soon-to-be ex-spouses. That might be true even if they have already reached an...
Using an appraiser to value real estate in a California divorce
One of the most difficult issues to resolve in any California divorce is the fair market value of the family home. The home has significant emotional value for each spouse, but different reasons may motivate each spouse. A professional appraiser can provide an...
Dividing a business in a California divorce: an overview
Most Californians understand that property in a divorce must be divided according to the rules of community property. According to the general rule of community property, the net value of marital assets must be divided equally between the divorcing spouses. Although...
Top ways to defend against a motion to modify custody
With a moment’s notice, you can suddenly find yourself facing the prospect of a child custody modification. This motion, filed by your child’s other parent, can threaten your child’s stability and your time and relationship with your kid. In other words, there’s a lot...