When parents divorce, one of the most wrenching potential consequences of ending their marital relationship is how their time and relationships with their children may change. While some change is inevitable, in California, public policy is to try to create conditions...
Michelle Hoover
How a Child’s Preference Influences LaMusga Factor Decisions in California Courts
When parents divorce, child custody decisions can become a source of bitter conflict. While each parent might recognize the importance of working together to look after their children’s welfare and well-being, they may have strong disagreements about where the...
Spousal Support and Retirement: What Happens When the Payor Retires in California?
When a long-term marriage ends in California, the lower-earning spouse may be awarded permanent or long-term spousal support that does not have a set end date when the payor’s obligation expires. In determining what is appropriate, the court must consider a range of...
How Remarriage or Cohabitation Affects Spousal Support in California
When a couple divorces in California, the higher-earning spouse may be obligated to pay spousal support to their lower-earning ex to maintain the marital standard of living. Perhaps alimony has been ordered for a limited amount of time as in a short-term marriage, or...
Understanding Gavron Warnings in California Spousal Support Cases
When a couple divorces, the higher-earning spouse may fear that despite the end of the marriage, they will have a financial obligation to support their ex forever. However, in California, the presumption is that spousal support (also known as alimony) is not...
How Domestic Violence Could Affect Your Divorce in California
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, renewed attention is focused on this issue experienced all too often in relationships. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 41% of women and 25% of men experience physical abuse, sexual violence, or stalking by an...
Tax Implications for Divorcing Business Owners
A business owner going through a divorce has an added source of anxiety beyond dealing with the end of their relationship, whether the process is acrimonious or not. Depending on when the business was formed, and in the absence of any legal agreement that establishes...
Who Pays Capital Gain Tax on Property after Divorce?
When a couple gets divorced, each may be determined to walk away from their marriage with an equitable share of their marital property as they negotiate their property settlement. However, achieving that goal requires much more than simply considering the face value...
How Long Do I Need to Pay Child Support in California?
When a parent’s marriage ends in divorce, their obligation to provide financial support for their children does not. Parents share financial responsibility for their children, and depending on their relative incomes, how custody is split, and other factors, often one...
How Are Custody Decisions Made for Special Needs Children?
When parents divorce, a key focus for each is usually ensuring that they can maintain their relationship with their children even if their marriage is ending. Often, some arrangement of joint physical and legal custody is devised. Even if these don’t always give...