Up until now, California law classified rapes that occurred outside of threat or force as non-violent crimes. However, if state assembly members have their way, that definition will soon change. Advocates of the new law point out that rape, even without the threat of...
Fast. Fair. Thorough.
Year: 2016
Custody dispute over embryos hinges on court jurisdiction
In a case that seems to be the first of its kind, two frozen embryos have been named the plaintiff's in a custody suit against the actress whose eggs were used in their creation. The former fiance of the actress, whose sperm was also used in their creation, had...
Supervised visitation
Divorce is never easy for anyone, especially when there is a custody dispute. You may even be apprehensive about visitation if there are concerns about your spouse's substance abuse, child abuse, neglect or when a parent was previously absent. Depending on your...
Custody disputes often start after the death of a parent
When the sole custodial parent—usually the biological mother—of a young child dies, who gets custody of the child left behind? The answer to that question can throw the entire surviving family into conflict and cause everyone to end up in court, wrangling over...
Unbundled uncoupling: Keeping divorce costs low
Keeping the cost of a divorce under control is usually a big concern for many people. Opting for unbundled legal services may be a convenient way to lower your legal costs during a divorce without lowering the quality of service that you receive. Unbundling is a form...
Victims of domestic violence often need legal representation too
Why would the victim of a domestic violence assault need an attorney? Because without one, you stand a good chance of being victimized again in other ways.Immediately after a violent incident, the police may issue an emergency protective order. It's designed to keep...
Who gets to keep the engagement ring when the relationship fails?
An engagement ring often represents a serious financial and emotional investment on the part of a romantic couple. When the relationship falls apart, there can be a lot of anger and angst associated with that ring. Perhaps in recognition of the uniqueness of that...
Fight back against false allegations of domestic violence
No one can argue that domestic violence is a serious, ongoing problem in California and the rest of the United States. Every day we see and hear about the terrible consequences of these crimes. Broken lives, horrific injuries, traumatized children and even death are...
What does transmutation of property mean in a California divorce?
When a couple divorces, California family courts must determine what is community property and what is separate property before proceeding with the property division process. Marital or community property is usually the assets and debts the couple acquired together...
Child custody transitions: Put yourself in your child’s shoes
Imagine you are a child and your parents are divorcing. You know that things are going to be different and maybe a little scary, but you don't know exactly what is going to happen. One day, you are told that you will suddenly be splitting your time between both of...