Your ex is repeatedly late for exchanges. A weekend visit is canceled without agreement. You are denied scheduled parenting time, or the other parent makes an important decision that appears to violate your joint legal custody order. At what point will a California family court actually do something? There’s no rule requiring a parent to…
A postnuptial agreement can change important financial rights after a couple is already married. It might determine whether property is separate or community, address ownership of a business, establish financial obligations, or affect what happens if the marriage ends. But what if you signed because your spouse threatened divorce, controlled the finances, withheld information, or…
What happens when your ex quits a job, turns down available work, or deliberately earns less while you are paying child or spousal support? California courts do not always have to calculate support using what a person is actually earning. In appropriate circumstances, a court can consider earning capacity, sometimes referred to as imputing income….
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…
