Divorce is upsetting for everyone involved. Children have an especially difficult time dealing with the stress of their parents’ divorce. It can negatively impact their behavior, their academic performance, and their mental and emotional health. The stress on children can even be so great that it impacts their physical health. During a divorce, it’s easy to feel like the painful toll on your child is inevitable Read More

Calculating child support in California is a bit of a complex process. In order to ensure a fair amount is ordered, the judge will take several factors into consideration before running the numbers through a calculator. Here are five of the factors the courts consider when determining child support amounts. 1. The parents’ incomes The judge will want to know how much money you and your former spouse are making. Read More

As parents considering divorce, you and your spouse have many decisions to make. One of the most important decisions you’ll face is about crafting your parenting plan. When you and your spouse realize that you are headed for divorce, you need to sit down to create a parenting plan immediately. By creating your parenting plan early on, you increase the odds that your child will have a smoother transition with the Read More

As a divorcing parent in California, you have probably heard the term, “in the child’s best interests.” It’s a phrase with a comforting idea. However, as a parent at the mercy of the court, the vague verbiage behind this kind sentiment can be confusing. Here’s what the court means when they refer to “the child’s best interests.” All states have different philosophies and ways of making decisions when it comes to Read More

Premarital (also known as prenuptial) agreements have a bad reputation. People think of them as an unnecessary document that could only help wealthy people. This is just one of many lies people believe about prenups. The truth is, if you’re thinking about marriage, you should also be thinking about premarital agreements. Here are five popular ideas people believe about premarital agreements and what makes them Read More

Alimony, which is often called spousal support, is one of the most misunderstood aspects of any divorce. To put it simply, alimony is a payment that one of the spouses pays to the other either for a set amount of time, or permanently, in order to help minimize the disruption to each party’s standard of living after the divorce. When determining how much alimony is paid, and for how long, the courts will look at many Read More

For many families, creating a suitable custody schedule is one of the top priorities when it is clear that separation or divorce is necessary. California awards legal and physical custody to parents, allowing parents to create a parenting plan that suits their children’s needs. Legal Custody Options Legal custody refers to the right that each parent has to make decisions about their children’s care. Parents Read More

Divorce brings up a lot of difficult questions and situations. One discussion that will need to take place between you and your ex relates to the division of property. This includes real estate, liquid funds, money held up in retirement or investment funds, items with substantial financial value, and anything else with financial or sentimental value. Below we explain how California divides these assets. What is Read More