What is the effect of adding your spouse to your home’s title? You just got married, and you are thinking about adding your new spouse to the title of your home. After all, you have made a commitment to love and support this person for the rest of your life, and sharing your home with
Does Spousal Support End with Cohabitation? Spousal support is sometimes awarded in the state of California to help one spouse or domestic partner adjust to life without the financial support of the higher income spouse. Also called Alimony, spousal support can be awarded for a specific period of time, for example, monthly for seven years,
What Is the Difference Between Divorce and Legal Separation? When you are dissolving your marriage in California, you may want to consider legal separation rather than divorce. Here’s why. What is legal separation? Legal separation is a court-approved separation, but the couple has not ended their marriage. Like divorce, it involves a legal process, which
Substance Abuse, Its Affect on Children and Child Custody Issues of substance abuse by a parent can have serious implications regarding child custody and parenting time. In California, if one parent alleges that the other has harmed or can potentially harm their child or children due to substance abuse, he or she can petition
Considering Divorce Mediation? Be Sure to Consult an Attorney Many couples decide to opt for divorce mediation rather than litigate their divorce through the courts, particularly if they have no children. In divorce mediation, the mediator does not represent the interests of either party, legally or otherwise. They cannot offer legal advice. The mediator’s role
Child Support – What Happens When Your Oldest Child Is No Longer Eligible? When getting a divorce and discussing how much child support will be paid, the supporting parent may assume that when the first child is no longer eligible, their child support payment can be cut in half. That is not how the court
Here's How the New Tax Law Affects Married Couples and Spousal Support Like many married couples, you may be thinking ahead to your tax liability for 2018. Here is a rundown of how the new tax law is likely to affect you, especially if you own a home, have a family, or are the payor
Who gets the family pet in a divorce? If you live in California, starting on January 1, 2019, things are about to change. A new law passed on October 1st of this year, Assembly Bill 2274, will treat pets as more than simply community property to be argued over in the separation of assets. Instead,
Can Adult Children Sue for Unpaid Child Support? If you are an adult child, can you successfully sue your parent for unpaid child support? The answer is, “It depends.” Technically, child support is owed from one parent to the other parent, to help raise the child. It is not a debt owed to the child.
How Divorce Can Impact College Financial Aid Getting a divorce compounds the challenges of funding your child’s college education. The cost of getting a divorce can erode into savings that have been earmarked for college tuition. And, shifting priorities on the part of parents, such as moving and new relationships, can also draw down otherwise