If you are separated or divorced from your child’s other parent, it is likely you will want to file your federal income taxes as head of household. This filing status has many benefits for parents. But if you are divorced, only one of you can claim this filing status....
In love and anticipating marriage, you put a down payment on a home with your own money and took out a mortgage because you intended to eventually live with your fiancé. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, though, you are not so sure. You have heard that if...
What some people forget is that the more things differentiate us, the more things actually bring us together. One of these surprising things that bridge the gap between same-sex couples and opposite sex couples is how you can test new mates to see if they are marriage...
Readers of this legal blog know that we discuss property division regularly. In a recent blog post, we discussed how property is treated in the property division process. In this post, we will expand on the differences between separate and community property in...
When there is a child support order in California, it is expected to be paid in full. However, some parents are delinquent in their payments. To ensure they pay, there are several enforcement methods that are used. Knowing these is critical not just for the custodial...
There is a perception that all family law cases in California are contentious. This is understandable given the attention paid to people who cannot agree on anything as they part ways. Still, there are many instances in which the parents can put their differences...
When two people get engaged to be married, probably the last thing they want to contemplate is divorce. A prenup (or prenuptial agreement) is a legal contract entered into prior to marriage that does exactly that. It contemplates divorce, and spells out how the...
California child custody disputes can easily become contentious, with the parents each seeking sole custody and maximum parenting time. While the child is at the center of the dispute, children can frequently have their own desires glossed over or outright ignored....
During a California divorce, children are a major part of the case. Parents engage in dispute over many issues related to their children. That includes child custody, parenting time and child support. Regarding support, there is a specific guideline that the court...
When our readers in California are going through a child custody family law issue, they probably hear the phrase “best interests of the child” quite often. It is one of those legal phrases that seemingly sets the tone for the whole case, like “beyond a reasonable...
