The First Steps in Beginning Your Divorce Proceedings
Once you decide that you and your spouse can no longer make it work, you may be wondering what your first steps are. Your first steps will depend on how you will end your marriage. There are three options for ending a marriage or domestic partnership. You will file for one of these options depending on your case facts and the status of your marriage as it stands. Annulment; Annulments…
Read MoreWorking Spouses: Can the Judge Order My Spouse to Work?
After a divorce, you or your spouse may be awarded spousal support for a period of time. The intent of spousal support is to provide temporary financial support for a spouse until they can become self-supporting. In most cases, spousal support will be temporary and may have a set time when it will be terminated. In other cases, there may be no set termination date however it may still be…
Read MoreAnnulments: Eligibility Criteria and Process
There are many different ways to end a marriage. For most people, they will go through the traditional divorce process. Some will qualify to file for a summary dissolution, which is a streamlined version of a divorce for short-term marriages with few assets and no children. Annulments are another option for ending a marriage however very few marriages will qualify to file for one. An annulment is what is considered…
Read MoreKnowing Your Worth: What is Considered an Asset?
One of the most complicated parts of a divorce is dividing the net worth of the marital party, which requires taking stock of all assets and all debts. Debts are clearly defined; money or other consideration owed to another party. Debts can be loans, lines of credit, credit cards, personal debts, mortgages, taxes or support owed. Assets, on the other hand, can take many forms. An asset can be something…
Read MoreAttorney’s Fees: Who Pays for Them?
Divorce can be expensive, this we all know. It can also be affordable under certain circumstances. Every divorce is different and will require more or less time or efforts dependent on how complex it is. Issues that can increase the complexity of a divorce are number of children involved, custody disputes, business ownership, significant assets or an overall high net-worth. In these cases, it can be well worth the investment…
Read MoreSelf-Employment and Divorce: What You Need to Know
Dealing with finances in a divorce can be a headache. Property division in California follows the community property rule; all marital assets are to be equally divided between the two spouses. While this sounds simple, many things can quickly complicate this part of the divorce. One such complicating factor is self-employment income, which may not be as easily verifiable or predictable like a salary. Today, many successful Californians are self-employed….
Read MoreRights to Residence: Can I be Kicked Out of My Own House?
When a couple comes to the conclusion that they want a divorce, one spouse will usually move out. If there are children involved, whoever is the primary care taker will generally stay with the children in the family home. For the children’s sake, this is often the best move. Moving out at the point of separation is sometimes what is best for a couple, however it is not a rule…
Read MoreStay at Home Spouses: What You Can Expect After Divorce
If you are a stay at home parent or homemaker, you might be worried about what your role will be after the divorce. Until now, your role has been in the home as a caregiver and a supportive presence to your working spouse. You may not be able to stay in that role going forward and so your goal in the divorce is to ensure your financial security is looked…
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