Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! As you prepare for this exciting new chapter, it's essential to consider how to safeguard your separate property (SP) in California. Here's what you need to know about keeping records and proving that the money you used for a...
Fast. Fair. Thorough.
Property Division
What happens to your joint business if you divorce?
Having a company and earning a substantial income from it is a blessing. However, in the context of divorce, a business can potentially become an issue. If you have a business together with your partner, how will it be split up during the divorce? California laws on...
Retirement account division in a California divorce
Property division is often one of the most complex parts of a divorce. Many couples are worried about losing financial security by splitting assets with a spouse, particularly valuable assets such as retirement accounts. Typically, retirement plans are considered...
Overview of community property and separate property
Any of our readers who are contemplating a divorce in California might know that this state follows the community property approach, which is different from the vast majority of the other states. Understanding the differences of this approach to divorce, as well as...
Do I need to update my estate plan during or after divorce?
Ensuring your estate planning documents are up to date during or after a divorce is crucial. Understanding its significant impact on your financial and personal affairs and whether adjustments are necessary for your estate planning documents can have a significant...
How to prove your property is separate in divorce
When it comes to property division, California is a community property state. Community property, sometimes referred to as marital property, consists of assets and debts that you and your spouse accumulated during your marriage. California law states that community...
What are my options if your spouse files their taxes separately?
Navigating the complexities of taxes during a marriage in California requires careful consideration of filing options. Couples in the state can choose to file jointly or separately. Each option carries its own sets of advantages and drawbacks, especially if a spouse...
Divorce costs and property division in California
Anyone who is going through a divorce in California knows that there are several serious legal issues that will need to be addressed. These can include property division, first and foremost, but alimony is also another big issue, while for those with minor children...
Can a custodial parent live in and defer sale of a marital home?
Property division in a California divorce is often viewed from the perspective of which person gets to retain what. That could include bank accounts, investments, real estate, automobiles and items of sentimental value among many other things. However, other...
Dividing family heirlooms in a divorce
There are many difficult aspects to divorce, but property division may be particularly likely to spark a dispute. This may be especially true when there are family heirlooms involved. Property division overview California is a community property state, meaning that...