Stepmom takes the best interest of the child to heart
A new bride vowed to love, honor and cherish her new husband and her new stepson. She also vowed to do the same regarding the child’s mother. During her marriage ceremony, the bride pledged her vows to her husband and included his former girlfriend and the son they have together in her new life and […]
Soldier fights for child custody while serving his country
There is no greater heartache for a parent than being thousands of miles away from his or her child. Even worse is a soldier fighting for his country overseas and struggling to maintain custody of his son here in the states. In California, there are laws in place that allow service members to designate temporary child […]
Spousal Support tax relief ends in 2019 with overhaul
A proposed tax overhaul was delivered to President Donald Trump who promptly signed it into law. The tax plan is set to touch every facet of life, including spousal support. The 75–year old tax deduction, sacred to those who pay alimony, will be scrapped effective January 1, 2019. In California and every other state, divorce negotiations […]
Smart decisions about marital assets during divorce
When a marriage ends, it can be both emotionally and financially crippling. It may be so painful that one cannot think clearly about making critical financial decisions. Dividing household contents, the marital home, bank accounts and vehicles, can take a toll on all parties involved. In California, proper planning can help safeguard assets during a divorce to […]
Potential pitfalls for divorce over 50
Studies show that one in four couples will end their marriage after the age of 50. Compare that to twenty years ago when one in 10 couples with a spouse over the age of 50 divorced. Some experts agree that with the surge in late-in-life break-ups, so-called gray divorces have become like an epidemic. In California, […]
Child support and the rising gig economy
Contract work is making it easy for parents to avoid paying the necessary and court-ordered support payment to their children. It is causing problems for the parents who are trying to get paid as well as for state officials who are trying to collect it. Approximately 70 percent of child support money is collected through paycheck withholdings, […]
Pay child support or lose your business license
Failing to pay child support can have severe consequences for everyone who owes. Child support services on the state level can revoke an individual’s driver’s license and a business license for failure to pay. In California, marijuana business owners should be prepared to work out a payment arrangement with the Department of Child Support Services or risk […]
Social media may impact divorce outcome
When going through a marital separation in California, spouses may feel tempted to go to social media to vent. However, sharing too much can be a problem — not just personally but also legally. A few tips may help those going through divorce to avoid harming themselves in the long run when using social media. More than 800,000 […]
Are vaccines in the best interest of the child?
A mother was recently sentenced to serve five days behind bars for violating a court order. She is in contempt of court for violating an order that required her to have her son vaccinated. In California, it may be in the best interest of the child to receive vaccinations. The mother insists that it is in the best interest […]
The main reasons for divorce
Within the first five years of marriage, statistics suggest that 22 percent of couples separate, get divorced or one party dies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that that this marital disruption increases to 53 percent for couples who have been married for 20 years. In California and elsewhere, the ability of a couple to […]