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Suppose your divorce has been finalized, and the courts awarded your former spouse shared or primary custody of your child. In that case, could child custody still be revoked later? Let’s review this crucial topic below. If your spouse’s behavior places your children in danger of harm, such as child...

After a California divorce, one spouse might owe spousal support, called “alimony,” to the other to maintain their standard of living. Sometimes, due to the high cost of housing, some divorcing couples have no other financial choice but to remain living together or to cohabitate with others to reduce living...

California is a community property state, meaning many divorcing couples, especially those in a high-asset or high-net-worth category, have much to lose. All property acquired by either spouse during the marriage is usually presumed to be equally owned by both spouses. Therefore, they can either...

When couples are getting a divorce in California, asset and property division is usually a significant concern. Protecting hard-earned money and other assets, including income in a joint bank account, is expected. In most divorces, joint bank accounts are divided equally, 50/50, but it’s not generally...

If you have decided to get a divorce and children are involved, you will need to do some advanced planning. Preparing for divorce with kids will typically include additional emotional and financial stress. Putting your children through a life-changing situation will never be easy and usually require family...

Often, spouses need to realize they have legal obligations to each other, such as a fiduciary duty. California Family Code 721 describes the fiduciary responsibilities of spouses. If either spouse breaches their fiduciary duty, legal remedies are available. In a California divorce, spouses have the legal right...

Every California divorce is unique as they have specific challenges. We are often asked how long their divorce will take. The correct answer is that various factors can impact divorce proceedings' length. First, California has a mandatory six-month minimum rule.  Another primary issue is a divorce with...

Living together during a divorce is not ideal but often the most cost-effective. However, many will tell you it’s challenging to figure out how not to get into a serious daily argument. In addition, some believe moving out of the marital home will impact court decisions on child custody and asset division...

In the state of California, the divorce process will take at least six months as there is a mandatory waiting period. Simply put, a California family law court will not issue a divorce decree until six months after filing the divorce petition. Of course, this assumes you meet the residency requirement discussed...

After your California divorce has been finalized, many people will start thinking about finding love again and making themselves available for dating. Suppose you receive spousal support (alimony) payments from your former spouse. In that case, you might wonder if a new dating life will impact these...

The work of a forensic accountant is essential when valuing and dividing property in a complex divorce. They closely analyze documents to assist the California family law court in making decisions on child support, spousal support (alimony) payments, and dividing community property, also called...

A trust fund is a legal estate planning tool that holds property or assets for someone, such as money, property, stocks, bonds, a business, or a combination of different assets. Trust funds are managed by a trustee, who must act for the grantor’s and beneficiary’s benefit. They can take many forms and...

We are often asked what exactly cannot be included in a California prenuptial agreement, which is called “prenups” and has sharply risen in popularity because people seek ways to protect their assets when they marry. You need to understand what type of provisions cannot be included in a prenuptial...

Many stay-at-home moms have dedicated much of their married life to caring for their children, husband, and their home. An enormous and complex life-changing challenge, but most will tell you worth every minute. Now that your marriage ends, you have valid concerns over what happens next, especially...

The marital standard of living (MSOL) is a set of factors defined under California Family Code 4320 that a family law court has to consider when determining spousal support (alimony). The marital standard of living is the lifestyle a couple enjoyed during the length of the marriage. They are designed...

In many high-net-worth divorces in California, spouses are frequently concerned about how their assets will be divided. However, the state’s community property laws will divide their debts equally. The most common large debts in a divorce include home mortgages, car loans, personal loans, credit...

Getting a traditional divorce in California is often challenging but becomes more complex when any business is involved. In other words, divorcing a spouse who is also a business partner can reach the next level of difficulty. Owning a business together has many unique challenges when getting divorced...

During a marriage breakup, it’s common for one spouse to move out of the marital home with the children. Sometimes this occurs with the other spouse's approval, but there are situations where the moving spouse decided to take the kids and leave without consent. However, that spouse doesn’t typically...

If you’re getting married, the first step is to get your marriage license. California offers a standard public marriage license and a confidential marriage license, which is also legally binding. This means a married couple will have to go through the standard divorce process to end their marital relationship...

When couples get a divorce, many are on an emotional roller coaster and don’t always make the best decisions. For example, some spouses will attempt to hide their assets from the court during divorce proceedings. The end of a marriage is devastating to many couples. In situations where one...

Most divorces are traumatic, life-changing events for married couples, their children, and their relatives. The stress often leads to bad decisions, such as when a spouse voluntarily decides not to work, even though capable, to avoid paying their support obligations, such as child support and alimony...

Establishing “paternity” in California means determining a child's legal and biological father. This can be accomplished by the parents or the family law court if necessary. The issue of paternity sometimes becomes a significant part of California family law. It’s pretty routine for people to file cases in...

When you decide to divorce, one of the most challenging decisions you will need to make will be related to financial issues. This includes the complex process of figuring out all the shared finances and identifying community and separate property. Second, only to child custody and support issues...

Under California law, you must disclose all assets, income, property, and debts during divorce proceedings. This disclosure of assets process is considered a crucial step in dividing property in a divorce. You could face civil penalties and even criminal charges if you attempt to conceal or intentionally...

To file for a dissolution of marriage (divorce) in California, there are specific residency requirements and procedures you must follow. For example, there are many forms to fill out and legal steps before the divorce is finalized. While on the surface, it may seem a daunting task, it's easier t...