San Diego Divorce Attorneys Blog
Voluntary Declaration of Parentage in San Diego
A voluntary declaration of parentage (VDOP) is a legal form that creates parentage for a child in California outside of the court system. When both parents sign a VDOP, they both attest that they are the child’s legal parents, which gives the father/second parent all of the rights and responsibilities as if a court had ordered parentage.
In San Diego, most voluntary declarations of parentage are signed at the hospital at the time of birth, but may also be signed later at an office. It is useful for California parents to understand the VDOP process, where to sign a VDOP, and the legal effects of signing to help protect parental rights and provide benefits to the child.
Families today don’t always follow the “Mom-Dad-Kids” template. Around San Diego, you’ll find LGBTQ+ co-parents, polyamorous families, platonic co-parents, cohabiting exes, stepparent blends, and chosen families of every kind. Yet, California’s legal framework, which is built largely for traditional two-parent, biological scenarios, can leave these modern families vulnerable.
In California, ‘legal separation’ means that a married couple can live independently without fully and formally dissolving their marriage. There are some benefits and disadvantages to obtaining a legal separation. A seasoned attorney who is familiar with legal separation cases can further discuss all options for dissolving a relationship.
In California, divorce proceedings can have significant impacts on family-owned businesses. The state’s community property laws dictate that marital property be divided equitably between both spouses. If both parties cannot agree to the division of a family business, the courts may get involved and order that the business be liquidated.
As you are preparing for divorce in California, there are several key factors that must be considered before you initiate legal action. Taking the first step towards divorce can be the hardest step, but preparing and understanding your rights and responsibilities can help you feel confident as you move forward in the life change. No matter the circumstances that have led you to pursue divorce, the more information you have, the more empowered you can feel about your choices.
If you’re going to be going through a divorce, you probably have many questions and concerns. One of those is likely the realization that you will need a lawyer to help you through the process. However, in evaluating who you would like to represent you, it’s important to understand what a San Diego divorce lawyer does. You should know what to expect from them as you consider who to hire.
Stories of messy divorces are familiar to many people. Even situations where both spouses are comfortable with the decision to divorce and have a desire to do so amicably can still be contentious. San Diego divorce lawyers with experience handling these situations can often help, though, as they recognize the patterns of how conflict can emerge and what may be able to prevent it.
Prenuptial agreements have a reputation for being exclusively useful for high-net-worth individuals and not of use or importance for “regular” couples, but this is not true. Taking time to identify the financial responsibilities and decisions within a marriage can ensure clear communication defining responsibilities, which often preserves the relationship from the financial stress of unaddressed matters.