What Does Transmutation Mean in Property Division?

When a couple divorces, they must go about dividing the assets and debts accumulated over the course of the marriage. This can be one of the most difficult, time-consuming tasks in a divorce. California is a community property state meaning all marital property is equally owned by both spouses. However, this doesn’t mean everything has to be divided down the middle. Many assets and debts, like houses and student loans,…

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What is a Certified Family Law Specialist?

When you are looking for a good family law attorney, you may be surprised to find out just how many attorneys claim to practice family law and handle divorces. While it is true many practicing attorneys can handle a divorce, if their specialty is in another field, they may be no better prepared to handle a divorce than you are. Attorneys that practice family law exclusively are the best bet…

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What is Collaborative Law?

When you think of divorce, you may think of nothing but conflict and contest. This is often the case, unfortunately, and is the main cause for divorces that drag on and on. Collaborative law is a legal process that seeks to avoid the authority, cost and conflict of the court system, saving the family from the stress of litigation. Collaborative law courts have been established across California that take an…

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What is Imputed Income?

Income comes into play in many aspects of a divorce. Child support and spousal support, along with the division of assets, require information about both spouses’ income to be calculated according to California family law statute. This income information includes how much a spouse makes as well as how much they can make. If one spouse is not employed, yet is deemed to be employable, their income may be imputed…

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Will My Divorce Take Longer if I Have a High Net-Worth?

A divorce in California can take as little as six months to well over a year. California residents must wait six months, starting from the date of service upon your spouse, before the divorce can be finalized. There are many reasons why a divorce would take more than the six-month minimum waiting period. A lot needs to be agreed upon before the courts can finalize your divorce. You have to…

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Can I Deduct Any of My Divorce Costs?

Divorces can be expensive and often bring about significant changes to your finances. If you are going through a divorce, you may be wondering if any of the costs associated with it, such as court and attorney fees, are tax deductible. In general, the IRS does not allow costs associated with a divorce to be deducted from your income. Legal advise, legal counseling and the like are not considered qualifying…

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How Do I Incorporate School Breaks into the Timesharing Schedule?

As part of your general parenting plan for co-parenting after the divorce, you and your spouse will have to develop a timesharing schedule. This is also called a residential or visitation schedule or agreement, and it essentially schedules your child’s residential time. In this timesharing schedule, day-to-day residential arrangements for the school year will be outlined in detail, as will arrangements for when your child is on break from school….

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How to Handle Separate Property During a Divorce

In every California divorce, all community property must be divided equally between the two spouses. Community property is all property acquired during the course of the marriage, but prior to separation. Separate property is property not subject to California’s community property rule in divorce. Property is considered separate when it is: acquired prior to marriage, after separation, or acquired during the marriage through certain kinds of gifts or inheritances for…

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