Will a Significant Raise or Promotion Change My Spousal Support?

In your divorce, spousal support may be ordered if one spouse needs financial assistance to become self-supporting. During the divorce process, the court may order temporary spousal support. The court will determine the amount of temporary support using a standard calculation. This calculation takes into consideration the financial needs of the spouse requesting support. The final support award, however, will be based on a number of factors under California Family…

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When is a Business Separate Property?

Business ownership is a thing of accomplishment. If you own a business, you may have spent years of hard work and sacrifice to be able to either build it from the ground up or purchase it. Determining whether it is property of the community or not will depend on when you acquired your current interest in it, with what funds and through which efforts. The basic principle is that whatever…

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How to Value Your Personal Property

In a divorce, all community property needs to be equitably divided between the two marital parties. This includes personal property or the items and belongings you have in your home or stored somewhere. Personal property, as opposed to real property, can be more easily divided than something like a house. Personal property may be termed ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ during a marriage but upon divorce or separation, they have to be…

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Dividing Retirement Plans in a Divorce

Dividing property in a divorce can be tedious. Everything you acquired during the marriage is now subject to the community property rule and will need to be equally divided under California family code section 760. Depending on how long your marriage has lasted; you may have made significant contributions to a retirement plan while married to your spouse. Dividing a retirement plan isn’t entirely different from dividing any other community…

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When is a Business Community Property?

When starting the divorce process, you may be concerned about protecting the assets you’ve worked hard to acquire. In California, property acquired during the course of a marriage is considered community property. Property acquired prior to the marriage is considered separate property. Closely held businesses are considered a divisible property during a divorce. While some assets may be clearly defined as either community or separate property, often business ownership comes…

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What is Temporary Spousal Support?

Spousal support is intended to be temporary financial support paid to one spouse by another during or after a divorce. These funds are meant to help the receiving spouse become self-supporting. Spousal support can be ordered temporarily during a domestic violence case or during the divorce process, after the couple stops living together but prior to the finalization of the divorce. This spousal support, called temporary spousal support, may be…

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How is Spousal Support Determined?

Do you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have significantly different incomes? Did one of you work, while the other stayed home to take care of the family? Did you give up your education career to help your spouse pursue theirs? If so, spousal support will probably be a factor in your divorce. You and your spouse will have to agree on the terms of support before your divorce can be finalized….

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Is Child Support Taxed?

Child support is the basic financial responsibility of all parents of minor children. Parents, whether together, separated, or divorced all carry with them a responsibility to care and provide for their children. How much you will have to pay or will receive depends on how much residential time you spend with your child and the financial resources of both parents. Child Support is Not Taxable Child support is not income…

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