Monthly Archives: July 2013
The Steps in Your Divorce
The steps in your divorce are a relative few, but they can be highly complex and involved as well as emotionally charged. Making yourself aware of the process will make it easier for all involved. Preparing to file for a … read more
Substance Abuse and the Decision to End Your Marriage
When a major contributing factor in your decision to end your marriage is the belief that your spouse has a substance abuse problem, the decision to file for divorce can be very stressful. Knowing that the very structure of your … read more
Complications with Home Equity Loans and Divorce
Complications arise when homeowners with an equity loan against their home get a divorce. Often couples have a home with a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a joint mortgage and this can be a major consideration in divorce … read more
After Marriage: Return to Your Birth Name?
Though it has been customary for the new wife to adopt her husband’s name, after divorce, the former spouse may have many reasons to return to her birth name. This situation is probably best addressed at the time of the … read more
Debt and Marriage: Do I Owe My Spouse’s Debts?
Whether you and your spouse are liable for each other’s debts depends mostly on where you live. In California, one of the handful of states with “community property” rules, most debts incurred by one spouse during the marriage are owed … read more
Divorce and Student Loans: Who Pays?
Divorce and student loans and are an increasingly common set of circumstances in today’s marriages. We often see at least one member of a married couple carrying substantial student loan debt. Even with a good job, many graduates are struggling … read more
Child Abuse: Termination of Parental Rights
Child abuse may result in termination of parental rights via a court order that permanently severs the legal parent-child relationship if the court finds one or both parents to be unfit, or when one or both parents give up their … read more
Wage Assignment: Collecting Support Directly From Wages
Wage assignment is one of the most common mechanisms for enforcing child support in California. It is also more properly known as a earnings assignment order. This ensures that child support (or spousal support) is subtracted from an employee’s wages. … read more
Retirement Plans and Settlement
Retirement plans, such as a pension, need special consideration when contemplating a divorce. These plans can reflect the joint efforts of a couple’s collective efforts over a long period of time. People who are in a divorce may be faced … read more
Divorce and the Military
Divorce where one or both of the parties are military personnel involves a more extensive set of requirements and rules than in a non-military divorce proceeding. Unlike standard family law cases, in military divorces there are different rules for residency … read more