Riverside Family Law Blog

Woman takes a disastrous route to a divorce

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Domestic Violence on Friday, October 18, 2019.

Everybody going through a divorce ultimately hopes that it will be quick and uncomplicated -- but things don't always go that way.

Well, one 45-year-old Florida woman took an approach to her divorce that has now made national headlines. She and her husband had initially agreed to an uncontested divorce. However, her husband came home one day and announced that he wouldn't sign the divorce agreement. He was going to take their issues into court. Contested divorces have to be litigated in front of a judge and frequently stumble over issues like property division, spousal support and child custody.

Is it time to discuss the holiday visitation schedule?

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Child Custody on Thursday, October 10, 2019.

The nights are getting longer, the air is getting colder and we're already in October. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will all be happening before you know it. That means that it's time to discuss your holiday plans with your co-parent and make any necessary adjustments to your visitation schedule with the kids.

For a lot of divorced parents, the holidays are a complicated time. Given the importance of family at this time of year, no parent wants to be separated from their children during the festivities. More than likely, you also have out-of-town relatives who also want to see your kids during the year. Unfortunately, you essentially have two choices when it comes to the holiday schedule:

You can insist that the custody agreement be followed as it is written and refuse to deviate for any reason.
You can work with your ex to make the holiday more enjoyable for everyone -- especially your kids.

Leaving your abuser: What you need to know

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Domestic Violence on Friday, October 4, 2019.

If you're in an abusive relationship, you know that the only sure road to safety is to get out and put some distance between yourself and your abuser.

Unfortunately, the mere act of leaving can actually make your situation more dangerous -- at least for a while. Here are a few things that every abused individual needs to know about making their way out of the situation.

Survive your divorce by using these tips

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Same-Sex Couples & Divorce on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

It doesn't matter how you got to this point -- you're there and you're getting divorced. Now, you have to find a way to reinvent your life and move forward.

Where do you start? Here are some practical tips that you can use:

Common divorce mistakes you need to avoid

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Same-Sex Couples & Divorce on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Are you headed for a divorce? If so, brace yourself because everybody who finds out will likely have advice they want to share.

The big problem is that a lot of people get their facts about divorce mixed up. If you rely on that information to guide your actions, you could end up making some serious mistakes, including:

How to protect your children from emotional issues after divorce

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Child Custody on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

You can't completely protect your child from the fallout of your divorce. However, you can minimize the effects. By concentrating on your emotional awareness, you can help your children develop theirs -- and weather the tides of the divorce a little easier.

Here are some tips for handling the emotional reaction from your children after a divorce:

California 'red flag' laws and domestic violence

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Domestic Violence on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO) -- which are generally called "red flag" laws -- exist in numerous states -- including California. They have just seldom been used -- until now.

In the past, police officers often had a difficult time separating potentially dangerous individuals from their weapons until after they'd committed an act of violence against someone. This often put people in close contact with the individual -- especially spouses in a strained marriage or spouses who were seeking a divorce -- in a difficult and dangerous position.

Trouble dealing with your ex-spouse? There's an app for that!

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.

One of the biggest headaches parents face post-divorce is the fact that their marriage may be over but their relationship with their child's other parent is not.

Mothers and fathers alike tend to dread the interactions they have to have with each other over things like:

Schedule conflicts
Holiday visits
School events
Sporting events
Vacations
Disciplinary issues

August is Child Support Awareness Month in California

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Child Support on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

Are you having trouble establishing paternity of your child because you and the baby's father aren't married? Are you having difficulty collecting court-ordered support because your ex-spouse has dropped off the radar? Is your ex-spouse self-employed and suddenly claiming that their business is faltering -- despite not making any changes to their lavish lifestyle?

These are all common problems when it comes to child support. The California Department of Child Support Services wants parents to know that there are 49 regional and county support agencies across the state to assist them.

Should you stay married to your transgender spouse?

On behalf of Cullen, Murphy & Naples posted in Same-Sex Couples & Divorce on Friday, August 16, 2019.

What happens when your spouse finally announces that he or she was born into the wrong body? Whether you're in a same-sex marriage or a heterosexual marriage, navigating the emotional and relationship fallout when a spouse reveals his or her truth can be complicated for both parties. For the spouse that isn't trans, here are a few things to consider when you think about your future:

1. You may have been in love with a fiction