California is a community property state, which means that a couple’s marital estate is divided 50/50 between the spouses when they divorce unless there is a prenuptial agreement that says otherwise. Generally, property acquired by either spouse during the marriage
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Is Parallel Parenting Right for You?
Co-parenting with an ex-spouse after divorce is not always easy. While all parents want to do what’s best for their children, there are other issues to consider. Do the ex-spouses get along? Are they capable of working together for the…
The Most Common Types of California Parenting Plans
Divorce is rarely simple for any couple, but it is significantly more complex for couples who have children. Not only can divorce be a traumatic experience for the children, but divorcing with children requires the parents to hammer out the…
How Marital Privileges Work in California
Marriage brings with it certain benefits — the right to file a joint tax return, the right to inherit a share of a spouse’s estate, and the right to make medical decisions on behalf of a spouse, just to name…
Void and Voidable Marriages in California
The legal requirements to obtain a marriage license in California are fairly basic. Generally, each party to the marriage must be unmarried and at least 18 years of age, the marriage ceremony must be performed by a person authorized to…
Preparing for a Divorce
Deciding to file for divorce is a monumental decision and not one to be taken lightly. Divorce can result in radical life changes and represents a significant departure from the status quo — especially if your marriage was lengthy, you…
How a Parent Might Lose Custody of Their Child in California
Child custody and visitation are some of the most sensitive issues in the divorce context. Divorce is the most traumatic event many children will ever experience and bitterly fought custody battles only add to the pain. California family law courts…
Understanding Gray Divorces
Divorce traditionally has been understood primarily as a phenomenon among the young and middle-aged. After all, most married couples figure out within a few years whether their marriage will work long-term. Estimates place the average length of marriage before divorce…
Challenging a Prenup in California
California is a community property state. While most other states divide marital property fairly (but not necessarily equally) upon divorce, California courts divide marital property 50/50, absent an agreement to the contrary. One agreement that is capable of changing the…
What Private Investigators Can and Can’t Do in Divorce Cases
The thought of hiring a private investigator during a divorce is distasteful for many people. Yet for others, private investigators can provide a valuable service in times of need. For example, a father in a child custody battle might hire…