Keeping Separate Property in a California Divorce California upholds a strict community property law for divorce, meaning that all of a married couple’s shared assets and debts must be divided evenly in divorce. However, California is a dual property state, meaning the court recognizes both separate property and marital property…
Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in a Contested Divorce Your divorce is likely to be one of the most challenging experiences of your life. The outcome of your divorce is likely to influence your life in many ways for years to come. The majority of divorces that unfold in California are…
California’s Community Property Law in Divorce Mediation Divorce is a notoriously arduous process for many reasons, one of the most commonly cited being property division. Unfortunately, California is one of the few states that upholds a community property statute, one that many people find to be too rigid and imbalanced…
Divorce Mediation Vs. Litigation The divorce process is never an easy experience, even for couples who have reached completely mutual decisions to divorce without any second thoughts. The formal steps required to end a marriage in the California family court system are more stressful and time-consuming than many people realize,…
Important Steps to Take Before Filing Your Divorce Petition in California The decision to end your marriage is likely to be one of the most impactful decisions you ever make, and it is not one you should make lightly. While it’s vital to take the appropriate time to consider your…
Everything to Know About Premarital Agreements Marriage is one of the most important decisions an individual will ever make. There are many diverse factors that go into choosing a partner, and they can differ widely depending on the individual. What does not differ, however, is the human drive to protect…
Understanding the Differences Between Writs and Appeals Navigating the court system can be exceedingly difficult for those new to the experience. In particular, many individuals are unfamiliar with the often-prevalent legal jargon—especially when it comes to the complex processes and legal documents this jargon can describe. Fortunately, the average person…
What Are Grounds for Annulment in California? In California, divorces and annulments serve the same general purpose—to legally terminate a marriage between two parties. However, the two tools function in vastly different ways. While an annulment is a legal declaration that a marriage never existed, it is different from a…
What Happens When a Parent Violates a Custody Agreement in California? When divorced or unmarried parents have a child custody agreement in California, both of them need to abide by the terms of the agreement to the letter. While life is unpredictable, and a parent may have an emergency or…
When Is it Appropriate to File Contempt Proceedings in California Family Court? If you recently completed divorce proceedings in California, or if you and your co-parent have recently completed a child custody determination, reaching these milestones does not necessarily mean that your time in the family court system is entirely…