Divorce on Steroids
Being rich changes everything. With the right finances, you can find yourself granted access to a lifestyle of which others only dream. Such a lifestyle often includes extravagant properties, exotic vacations, celebrity friends, and the regular occurrence of opportunities that would typically be deemed “once in a lifetime.” Yet, for all of its perks, being […]
What About Grandpa
In most discussions of divorce, spouses seem to be the only players. They bicker and battle in court, and then the matter is presumably settled. But what about the rest of the family? Each spouse may have parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members who play integral roles in their children’s lives. Unfortunately, children of […]
A Roadmap for Divorce: Separation Agreements
Want to make your divorce easier? Create a marital separation agreement. This agreement is an official, written agreement between you and your spouse. In the agreement, you each agree to specific matters of the settlement process. Examples of such matters include spousal support, child custody, and division of assets. Having these items clearly defined in […]
Handling Your Retirement in a Divorce
Retirement benefits are one of the many issues that may need to be settled in divorce proceedings. For example, if one spouse participated in a 401(k) plan through his employer during the marriage, his wife would be entitled to some of the benefits when he retired. But when a couple divorces, it is necessary to […]
Changing Your Name After Divorce
The period following divorce is often viewed as a chance to start over. Some people choose to relocate and construct new careers and social lives. Others give their homes a good cleaning and discard certain possessions that remind them of turbulent times. In discarding the past and making a fresh break, many people seek to […]
Arbitration: Another Alternative to Court
The court is not the only option for divorcing couples. A common alternative to court is mediation, in which a neutral third party helps the couple reach their own agreement regarding the division of property, child and spousal support, and custody. Another option is mediation’s close cousin, arbitration. An arbitrator is sometimes described as a […]
Divorce or Legal Separation?
In everyday conversation, the words “divorce” and “separation” are often used interchangeably. Those who are getting a divorce may tell others that they are separating from their husband or wife. This is a mistake. In California, divorce and separation are two distinct legal terms. In fact, technically speaking, the term used in California is “dissolution.” […]
Moving with Children After a Divorce
After the pain of a divorce, many people wish to move far away. A divorced spouse in Los Angeles, for example, might dream of moving to New York or even overseas to start over. Clean the slate. Begin a new life. For adults without children, the decision to move is entirely up to them. If […]
Bifurcated Divorce: A Faster Way Forward
Speed is not a word that is typically used to describe divorce in California. The process resembles a sluggish crawl more than a rapid sprint. This is due in part to the legal procedures that must be completed to separate and the strong emotions that often flare between separating spouses. Add in scheduling issues for […]
Unhappy with the Judgment In Your Case? Now What?
The banging of a gavel usually symbolizes the end of a court case. When the gavel hits, those involved leave the courtroom and begin to move on with their lives. Judgment has been rendered and it is considered by most people to be final. To some, however, a gavel and the judgment that follows are […]