In California, child support is determined by a mandatory guideline formula that takes into account several factors. To calculate child support in California, you can use the online Child Support Guideline Calculator provided by the California Department of Child...
Focusing On Family Law – And You
Divorce
Are there divorce issues related to California taxes?
During the divorce process, there are a lot of considerations. Though, what you may not think about are the tax implications. This is especially true in a state like California that has community property laws. In this blog post, we will describe some of the common...
How long will my alimony payments last?
In a divorce in which one spouse earns less than the other, the higher-earning spouse may be ordered by the courts to pay the lesser-earning spouse alimony. Alimony or spousal support is intended to help the lesser-earning spouse support themselves in the months and...
Five tips for effective communication during divorce
The divorce process is often riddled with emotional and logistical challenges. Depending on the facts surrounding your marriage dissolution, you may experience a deep sense of hurt, and the reality of your normal life being upended can leave you frightened of the...
Tips for a healthy divorce
Sometimes married California couples stay together because divorce seems complicated, overwhelming and emotionally challenging. While all of these things can be true about divorce, there are many things you can do to increase your chance of a healthy divorce. There...
How does child support address extraordinary expenses?
When a California couple divorces and a child support order is put into effect, it is not necessarily set in stone. There are guidelines that the court will use when making its order. However, as circumstances change, so too might the support that is needed and must...
The step-by-step process of divorce in California
Every divorce case in California is different, but there is a fairly standard legal process that must be followed in most cases. Following that process can help make sense of a legal matter that might be emotionally and financially stressful. Step-by-step process For...
Resolving divorce issues through mediation
Divorce is among the most difficult experiences in a person’s life. There is often significant hurt and uncertainty as spouses move through the divorce process. Increasingly, divorcing couples are turning to mediation in hopes of resolving issues surrounding divorce,...
What do you need to know about “community property”?
If you are beginning to consider a divorce in California, you may not realize that our state follows a property division rule that is in the minority in the United States—a rule known as “community property.” So, what do you need to know about “community property”...
What if your child custody exchanges do not go as planned?
The ink on your divorce decree may be dried, but the problems between you and your former spouse are bleeding over into your post-divorce life, especially if you are parents. Your divorce decree includes a parenting plan. Unless both parents in California share joint...