UPDATED: You realize you haven’t received this month’s child support payment from your former spouse. You try to contact them about the situation, but they dodge your calls and won’t to your messages. When you finally do make contact, they play it off and make excuses. When they realize you …
The word “decree” can refer to any sort of proclamation backed up with authority or law but in family law, a “divorce decree” simply refers to the court’s final ruling and judgment order that makes the termination of a marriage official.
As with every process, this one has a moment where it starts. In California, the first divorce step is when you fill out and file the divorce petition. You’ll need to provide your personal information and that of your spouse.
We love our kids. They’re a huge part of our lives, which is why child custody disputes so often become heated and tense. Because our focus is family law, we field inquiries about custody and visitation all the time. The courts generally view keeping both parents in a child’s life …
UPDATED: No one wants to admit defeat. No one wants to face the fact that a marriage just doesn’t work, that this person you once loved, who once meant everything to you, isn’t the same one you married. That’s part of why divorce is so often such a difficult choice. …
The term “child custody” is the overarching term that covers everything related to the welfare and upbringing of a child. This includes parental rights and obligations. In California, legal custody and physical custody are two terms you’ll hear a lot. What’s The Difference Between Physical Custody and Legal Custody? It …
When it comes to divorce, dividing up assets, income, and shared property forms a big piece of the puzzle. Houses, pensions, retirement funds, they’re all on the table. Even, potentially, Social Security disability payments. Rick Jones, one of our founding partners, makes regular appearances on the Danny Bonaduce and Sarah …
Legal paperwork is notoriously complicated. Before you can divorce, you have fill out and file all kinds of forms and jump through various hoops. There’s a lot of detail. So much that it’s all too easy for things to slip through the cracks. But what can you do if there’s …
Is There More Than One Option to End Your Marriage? When it comes to ending your marriage, there are multiple options at your disposal. You can choose divorce or you can choose annulment. The question remains, which is better and which is right for you? Each comes with potential benefits …
UPDATE: The northern California town of Clearlake remains the divorce capital of the Golden State. According to the latest data collected by 24/7 Wall St., the 15,000 resident hamlet still has the highest divorce rate in the state. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. From last time to …
We all get self-absorbed or show narcissistic traits on occasion. For the majority of us, these moments are fleeting and the impulses controllable. But being in a relationship with a person with a narcissistic personality disorder is difficult, let alone being married to one. And if want to divorce a …
How long do I have to pay child support? It’s a question we hear often. As is so often the case in family law matters, there’s a quick answer and a more in-depth conversation. And what about post-secondary education? How do you plan for that following divorce? One of our …
Filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket and entering half a dozen pools is practically an American tradition. But filling out a bracket is also a daunting task. Some fans religiously pore over every word Joe Lunardi utters, track quadrant one wins, and keep tabs on conference tournament play. And after …
For most of us, buying a house is the biggest purchase we ever make. So when it comes to divorce, it’s no surprise it’s often one of the primary assets to divide. But how does divorce impact things like home loans? If you end your marriage, are you still on …
Is it a gift or inheritance? Does it matter? That’s a question we hear often during divorce proceedings. The answer may impact how the courts view certain assets and thus how they are divided. It’s easy to see why this is important information to have. Rick Jones, one of our …