As a family law attorney, I do see the effects of untreated mental health conditions. This is a good reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health. Mental health struggles don’t just impact the individual, it can affect the whole family and society. Mental health can affect family law, criminal law, and […]
Many people come to my office determined to get an annulment to their marriage/domestic partnership because they’ve heard it’s simpler than getting a dissolution of marriage/partnership. In some cases, this is true, but an annulment is only possible under certain circumstances and there must be sufficient grounds for taking this action. First, let’s get the […]
We all know or should know, that anything we post or upload online can be a risky proposition. Embarrassing celebrity videos or compromising text messages are in the news all the time. Don’t we all think to ourselves, “How could they be so stupid as to let that happen? I would never make that kind […]
Clients often ask me what they can do when an ex-spouse or former domestic partner violates or ignores a Family Court order regarding child support, visitation rights, restraining orders, etc. If such a violation occurs, they ask, shouldn’t the offending party be subject to a contempt of court action? In California, most contempt of court […]
Age is not a predictor of divorce. It can happen to anyone at any time. Many older people feel trapped in a burdensome marriage because they either feel they cannot move on financially without the combined income and resources they have grown accustomed to or feel they are too old to make such a drastic […]
Is someone who relies upon support payments from his or her ex-spouse (either for themselves or for any children they may have) affected when their former spouse or partner files for bankruptcy? When someone files for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, that person’s creditors must immediately stop all collection efforts on their […]
The principle behind laws regarding child support in California is very simple. The parents of children born in the course of a marriage (or conceived out of wedlock) are legally responsible for the financial support of their offspring, regardless of whether or not those parents are living with their child(ren). Typically, an order for child […]
With the holiday season upon us, people often find themselves in a financial crunch, (buying gifts, hosting visiting family members, etc…). The burden of these additional holiday expenses can be especially challenging if you’re either paying spousal,/partner support or even receiving such payments yourself. That’s why it’s not unusual at this time of year for […]
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 […]
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 […]