As we’ve covered in previous posts, CA is a community property state. What this entails is that during the asset division process of your divorce, the CA family law courts will typically split everything that was accumulated during the marriage between you and the ex. This includes assets as well as debts, and the goal is for the distribution to be equitable for both parties.
The term gaslighting has gained momentum over the years, and the term itself has become part of everyday usage. As is often the case with many widely-used terms, the definition of gaslighting can be a bit loose depending on how it is being utilized in conversations. That said, gaslighting is a specific concept with a well-defined definition.
Trying to attain full custody in California is often an uphill battle. As we’ve covered in previous blog posts, the state of California will always push for shared custody, as it has been demonstrated that having both parents actively engaged in a child’s upbringing is beneficial for not just the child, but for all involved parties as well. The courts will sometimes grant full custody, but only if and when the circumstances dictate that this is the best course of action for the child.
For divorced parents, navigating custody orders can be challenging enough on its own. It can be especially difficult or frustrating when your child is reluctant or actively fights any established custody orders that may be in place. Perhaps they don’t like spending time with the other parent, or maybe they’re simply overwhelmed from the constant changes and overall stress caused by the divorce.
Divorce costs time and money, and perhaps unsurprisingly most people prefer to finalize a divorce as quickly as possible. When a California couple agrees to an uncontested divorce, this can further speed things along. This is because, as the name implies, uncontested divorce is a process where both parties agree to the terms of a divorce ahead of time.
Family law hearings and divorce proceedings in California are involved and stressful affairs. The future of yourself, as well as your loved ones, hangs in the balance and it’s important that you prepare from every angle. We often discuss specific areas relating to family law in CA, but it’s just as important to cover adjacent and equally important topics involving divorce prep.
When it comes to divorce, there are tons of matters and potential issues to deal with before things are finalized. Depending on your marriage and specific circumstances, some of these potential issues might be quickly smoothed out, and others could lead to lengthy, drawn-out disputes.
We’ve previously covered the benefits of mediation, which often proves to be a better solution for divorcing couples than a traditional divorce in California. However, there are a few risks inherent with this process, and some choose to avoid mediation altogether. While exercising caution is wise when it comes to family law, mediation offers tremendous advantages that often overshadow any risks or potential complications.
California divorces are complex proceedings, and every situation carries its own unique variables. Most people are naturally concerned about how much time and money they can expect to lose during their CA divorce, which tempts some folks to cut corners where possible. Especially in straightforward divorces where people don’t expect complications, many folks may be tempted to proceed without investing in an attorney.
If you’re going through a divorce in California, you may be dealing with questions or disputes centering around alimony. As each party moves onto their newly-single life, the family law courts will often mandate that one person pay the other with a specific amount of money. This payment is designed to ensure that the person is able to maintain their current standard of living while they get on their feet.
There’s a lot to manage when it comes to divorce proceedings in California, or in any state for that matter. Challenges include having to figure out the financial side of things, anxiety about any potential child support or visitation arrangements, and the potential for deep emotional conflict or tension among all involved parties. Even just communicating with the soon-to-be-ex can be a challenge, especially if there’s a large amount of resentment or bitterness at play.
California divorce proceedings aren’t one large, singular event but rather they’re composed of different procedures and legal “sessions.” After all, the involved parties and the state have several complicated aspects of the divorce to work out, ranging from child support/custody issues to assessing what the resulting financial outcome will look like.
The current emerging and disrupting technology is unarguably artificial intelligence. The rapid advancement of the technology has already impacted nearly every industry significantly, with massive restructurings and reorgs happening as companies work to rapidly adapt to this new landscape. Now, we’re seeing the “threat” of AI seep into family law proceedings.
In CA, it’s critical for all involved parties to ensure that they stick to all court orders, which includes following any defined parenting/custody plan as well as ensuring that all alimony and child support payments are accounted for in a timely manner.
Sharing custody with another parent is an effective way to promote stability and healthy connections in the life of your child. For all its benefits however, there are many complications and issues that are sure to arise in even the best-tailored custody plan amongst parents who enjoy working together.
As you navigate your divorce in California, you have to consider several key facets, including your financial future, the living arrangements for you and your children, and custody issues. The worst part for many is that they have to navigate these issues while under tremendous stress from the divorce itself.
When navigating a family law matter or court rulings, it goes without saying that it’s critical for you to follow all the rules, orders, and rulings handed down by the courts. The honor system won’t cut it for family law matters, and the courts have mechanisms that allow them to enforce these rulings and penalize those who disobey or go against the court’s wishes. This is known as “contempt of court.”
Divorce carries untold implications and the resulting outcome can shape your life for years to come. In addition to changing your life circumstances and living arrangements, a divorce can upheave your current and future financial life. This is simply the nature of divorce, and some changes cannot be avoided.
Once a divorce finally wraps up, involved parties are usually relieved to put everything behind them and move on with their lives. The terms of the divorce are thus locked in and set in stone. However, not every resulting outcome is always satisfactory to either divorcing party. There are also instances where circumstances change and the original divorce terms are no longer fair or equitable to one party.
In California, custody arrangements and co-parenting plans are usually drawn up and approved by the courts before a divorce is finalized. When parents dispute the potential arrangements during the divorce proceedings, the courts may step in to make the final call. However, the courts generally prefer that parents work together on an agreed parenting plan.
After the divorce dust settles and custody issues are worked out, many people find themselves sharing custody of their children with the other party. This usually works out to a shared schedule or allotted time when the kids stay with you vs when they stay with the other parent.
Once a divorce is finalized, both parties are likely to find themselves in a very different financial situation. The outcome of the divorce proceedings will likely play a huge part in shaping this post-divorce landscape. By then, the family law courts will have worked out how to divide all assets and debts between both parties. Furthermore, they’ll usually assign any spousal or child support obligations to one party as required.
We’re nearly halfway through 2023, and the hot summer months are upon us. Generally, summer months are peak divorce months, with August having on average the highest number of divorces throughout the year. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good time to offer a quick primer on the divorce process from beginning to end.
Once a child support order is finalized and put into motion, it becomes “locked in” unless the court decides to revisit the arrangement. Unfortunately, this means that the arrangement won’t necessarily be updated even if you or your family experience rapid changes in your lives.