If you pay spousal support in California and believe your ex is living with a new partner, you may wonder whether that relationship can reduce or end your support obligation. Cohabitation can matter, but it doesn’t automatically terminate spousal support. Under California Family Code section 4323, cohabitation with a nonmarital partner creates a rebuttable presumption…
Being served with a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) petition in California can have immediate consequences. Depending on the orders requested or already issued temporarily, you may face restrictions on contact, residence, firearms, and interactions with your children. A DVRO can also affect related family-law proceedings, particularly child custody. If you receive DVRO papers, understanding…
One of the most common assumptions parents make about California child support is that a 50/50 custody arrangement eliminates it. It does not. Sharing parenting time equally can significantly affect the amount of child support, but California’s guideline calculation considers more than the custody schedule. The parents’ incomes, tax circumstances, actual timeshare, and certain allowable…
A prenuptial agreement can give couples greater certainty about property, debts, business interests, and financial expectations if their marriage ends. But simply having both people sign a document before the wedding does not guarantee that a California court will enforce every provision. California has specific requirements governing premarital agreements. When a prenup is challenged during…
Being served with divorce papers can make the divorce suddenly feel very real. But service doesn’t mean that the divorce is final, nor does it mean your spouse automatically receives everything requested in the Petition. Instead, service starts several important deadlines and gives the responding spouse an opportunity to participate in the case. In California,…
Choosing a divorce attorney is an important decision, particularly when your case involves children, substantial assets, support obligations, or a contentious relationship with your spouse. The lawyer you select may negotiate on your behalf, advise you about major financial decisions, prepare you for custody proceedings, and represent you in court. For men going through a…
When parents disagree about child custody or parenting time in California, they generally don’t go directly to a judge for a decision. California law requires parents with contested custody or visitation issues to participate in court-connected mediation first. The process is handled through Family Court Services (FCS). For fathers involved in a custody dispute, understanding…
Financial circumstances can change significantly after a California divorce. A job may be lost, income may increase or decrease, someone may retire, or the spouse receiving support may become more financially independent. When circumstances change, either spouse may be able to ask the court to modify, or sometimes terminate, a spousal support order. For long-term…
Not every California divorce has to end with a judge deciding every disagreement as trial. When spouses are able to reach agreements about some or all of the issues in their divorce, those terms can generally be documented in a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA). An MSA can address everything from dividing the family home and…