Protect Your Assets by Keeping Records

When two people fall in love and decide to get married, they don’t want to consider the possibility that at some time in the future they may no longer feel the same way about each other – and that the experience of separation and divorce might turn ugly over issues of community assets and debt

What does “Spousal Support” Mean?

Spousal support, (formerly known as “alimony”), refers to the obligation of one party in a marriage or domestic partnership to provide support to their former spouse or partner. California Family Code Section 4320 lays out numerous factors by which a court is mandated to award spousal support. These factors include: Duration of marriage Available resources

To Stash or Not to Stash: Do I Have to Disclose Everything I own in a Divorce Proceeding?

People who come to my office seeking assistance with a divorce often ask one of two questions, and sometimes both: “Do I have to tell my spouse about everything I own or owe?” “What happens if my spouse is hiding an asset?” These are important issues that need to be addressed, since the process of

Timing is Critical for Divorce/Dissolution of Domestic Partnership andBankruptcy Filings

Debt and other money issues are often at the root of divorce or the dissolution of domestic partnerships. But these problems don’t just go away once a couple separates. When debt is incurred by spouses or domestic partners in their joint names (and, in some cases, in just one party’s name), creditors can go after

What Happens At A Mandatory Settlement Conference?

During the course of a family law matter, such as divorce, legal separation or dissolution of domestic partnership, many California courts offer the option of a scheduled “settlement conference.” In some counties, including San Diego, this is a mandatory proceeding, should the parties be unable to resolve their dispute among themselves. It is, in essence,

What Happens to Child and Spousal Support When an Ex-Spouse Remarries?

There’s a common misconception about how a person’s support obligation changes after an ex-spouse remarries. For purposes of this discussion, let’s say Joe is paying child support to his ex-wife, Traci, for their daughter Angela. After a year or so of being on her own, Traci meets, falls in love with and marries a plastic

What Happens When You Marry Someone with Support or Debt Obligations?

These days, it’s not uncommon for a person to marry someone who comes with some financial “baggage”— that is, with debts or support obligations of some kind. Here’s a fairly typical scenario: Jane comes to my office seeking information about getting a prenuptial agreement. Her fiancé, Frank, is saddled with several types of obligations. Her

Who Gets the Family Pet After a Divorce?

Disputes over personal property are common in most divorce proceedings. Any family law attorney can likely tell you about clients who argued endlessly over who should get possession of a treadmill that’s been sitting in the basement for years (unused). Ironically, purchasing a new treadmill would often be less expensive than the legal fees incurred

Warning: Getting Emotional Can Cost You Money

As a family law attorney, I often help people when they’re really not at their best. Especially in cases of divorce and child custody, clients are very upset, stressed about the future and unable to think clearly about their options. They frequently take actions based on their emotions that end up prolonging their case and