Is Mediation Possible in a Heated Divorce? The vast majority of divorce cases filed throughout the United States unfold along relatively tame lines compared to many media portrayals of divorce. However, in rare cases, divorces are hotly contested by one or both parties, and the emotional side of a divorce…
Articles Posted in Divorce Settlement
Why You Should Attempt Divorce Mediation Before Litigation
San Diego Divorce Attorney Ending a marriage is rarely a simple or easy endeavor, but there is more than one way to handle this type of matter. While many people believe that divorces end with heated court battles, this is actually only true for a small fraction of the divorce…
Every Ending Is a New Beginning
COVID-19 has affected all sectors of the U.S. population. The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has issued stay-at-home orders for all residents, with limited exceptions for “essential works.” In California alone, over 1 million workers have filed for employment benefits. The San Diego Courthouses have all closed to the public…
Child Support When Both Parents Care for the Child Equally
The other day I was asked, “Why do I need to pay child support to my ex-wife if we care for our children equally?” This is a great question that requires some understanding of both California law and public policy. At first blush it may seem unreasonable and unfair that…
Spousal Support and Termination
One of the hot button issues in any divorce case is spousal support. Standard questions that might float through a party’s mind include, but are not limited to, “what party will pay support?”, “how much support will I pay/receive?”, and “how long will I pay/receive support for?” This blog will…
My Divorce is Over, Now What?
Parties in the middle of a divorce often long for that light at the end of the tunnel when they can finally say that it is over! Although it may seem like you will never reach the end, everyday parties are finalizing their divorce judgments and moving on with their…
Common Types of Discovery in a Divorce Proceeding
Once the initial paperwork in a divorce proceeding is filed, both parties must complete what is called a “Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure.” This disclosure mainly consists of two documents, the first is the party’s “Schedule of Assets and Debts” and the second is the party’s “Income and Expense Declaration.” Just…
What is an Ex Parte Hearing?
It is no secret that the San Diego Family Law Courts are overutilized, overworked, and overbooked. When a party files a motion with the court it can often take several months, or longer, to get a hearing date! This can be frustrating for litigants who want to move their case…
SPOUSAL SUPPORT BASICS
The infamous comedian-actor Robin Williams once said, “Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it ‘all the money,’ but they changed it to ‘alimony.’” Alimony, or more commonly now called spousal support, may be awarded to either spouse during the pendency of a divorce proceeding,…
When Will My Divorce Be Finalized?
More often than not, one of the first questions our office receives when someone is inquiring about a divorce is “how long will my divorce take?” This question, like so many other legal questions, often depends on the circumstances of the case. While it is our hope to get…