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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Many have experienced anxiety by reminding themselves of their own mortality with the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of this, people are reaching out to me for estate planning. They ask if they need a Will or a Trust? Would they be able to get by with just a Will? As an attorney, I will […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
In recent weeks, it’s been my sad misfortune to lose two close relatives in my family. After the initial shock of the loss of each beloved family member, I have been swamped with questions from other family members and friends about what to do (in terms of legal obligations) when a loss like this occurs. […]
For many people facing a legal issue, the first thought that generally comes to mind is how much will this cost in attorney’s fees? The good news is that there are numerous types of cases in California where being represented by an attorney is not a necessity. As a general rule, you may not need […]