Family Law Services

The relationship of husband and wife imposes significant fiduciary duties on the spouses. Under California law, the fiduciary duties spouses owe to each other include mandatory, full disclosure of all assets, liabilities, income and expenses. These disclosures stem from equitable principles of fairness, and are intended to make settlement negotiations more transparent and efficient between…

Dividing up property is a necessary task in any California divorce. Property includes real property such as the family home, and personal property like bank accounts, cars, and home furnishings. There are three basic steps to the process of dividing up property in a California divorce proceeding. The first step involves classifying the property as…

Filing for divorce can seem complicated, so we’re here to help. Here is a step-by-step guide to the California divorce process. Filing And Service Of Petition The California divorce process starts with the filing of a summons, petition for dissolution of marriage and related forms. Under California divorce law, the filing spouse is known as…

Preliminary financial disclosures are a necessary step in the California divorce process. Their main purpose is to compel both sides to put all of their financial information on the table, to facilitate settlement of financial issues and to ensure an equal division of community property comprising the marital estate. This article provides an overview of…

One of the first questions arising in a divorce involves the living arrangements of the respective spouses pending finalization of the proceeding. Usually, it is difficult for the spouses to live under the same roof while the divorce case is pending. This article discusses the factors considered by the Court when making the determination of…

If you want someone to be able to represent your interests in a financial, business, family, or health related matter or transaction, a power of attorney serves the purpose of legalizing the transfer of authority from you to the agent on whom the power is conferred. This article provides an overview of the requirements for…

Both parents are legally obligated to provide financial support for their children to cover a child’s living and medical expenses. This payment is called “child support.” Here is an overview of the factors a court considers when deciding a request to award or modify child support, the Department of Child Support Services’ role in the…

As time goes by, a legal custody arrangement involving a minor child may not be appropriate or feasible for a variety of reasons. Custody arrangements are modifiable as the needs of the parties and the minor children change over time. This article provides an overview of the steps needed to modify a legal custody order…

In California, there is a streamlined method of obtaining a divorce, called “summary dissolution.” This article will explain the requirements for taking advantage of this procedure to end a California marriage. What Is a Summary Dissolution? In California a divorce is called a “dissolution”. There are two ways for obtaining a dissolution in California –…

When a couple legally separates or divorces, the court may order one spouse to pay the other a certain amount of support money each month. This is called “spousal support” for married couples, and commonly referred to as “alimony”. This article provides an overview of the spousal support award process, how to change or end…