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For people with substantial or unusual assets, dividing property in a divorce may involve far more than allocating bank accounts, retirement benefits and real estate. A marital estate may include fine art, antiques, rare coins, jewelry, watches, historical objects, textiles or an entire collection assembled over many years. These assets present distinctive questions. Who owns… Read More »

California Court Rules IHSS Caregiver Payments Count as Income for Child Support   In an Appellate Court Case published August 21, 2026, the Court Ruled IHSS Caregiver Payments Count as Income for Child Support and held that a Child Support Payor who recently lost their job will not have income imputed simply because the payor… Read More »

California Court Says DVRO Petitions Must Be Decided on the Merits When someone asks a California family court for a domestic violence restraining order, can the court dismiss the case simply because the evidentiary hearing has taken too long? In the newly published decision In re Marriage of G.E. & I.D. (July 20, 2026, D085597),… Read More »

Your Ex Won’t Comply? Two Pathways to Enforce Your California Divorce Judgment: Against Noncompliance or Against Fraud A final Judgment of Dissolution is a powerful court order, not a suggestion. It legally divides your assets, establishes support obligations, and defines your new separate property. But what happens when an ex-spouse ignores the judgment—either through simple… Read More »

Business Owners: Why Your Tax Return Doesn’t Dictate Support in California: When Addressing Alimony and Child Support Matters Expense Deductions on the Tax Returns of Small Business Owners Will Be Carefully Reviewed by the Court   If you own a small business or are divorcing someone who does (or you are in a child support… Read More »

Child Custody Mediation in California Family Law Courts: Putting Your Children First When you are facing a separation or divorce, the most stressful question is often: “What happens to our children?” In California, the legal system is designed to prioritize the well-being of your kids above all else. Before you ever step into a courtroom… Read More »

Don’t Let the Price Tag Separate You from Your Children: What “In re Reyna R.” Means for You. Imagine a reality where spending time with your children isn’t a right, but a luxury you have to pay for. This is the heart-wrenching situation many parents face when a family law court orders “professional visitation monitoring.”… Read More »

Securing Your Future: A Comprehensive Guide to California Parentage Actions and Choosing the Right Attorney For parents who were never married, establishing a legal relationship with their child—and securing court orders for custody, visitation, and support—requires navigating the legal system through what is known in California as a Parentage Action, formerly known as a Paternity… Read More »

California Child Support Enforcement: What Happens If a Parent Owes Past Due Child Support? If you are a parent who hasn’t received support which is due, or if you are a parent who is falling into “arrears” (past-due support), you should address the issue immediately, not ignore it. Here is what you need to know… Read More »

What is the California family law statute that addresses whether a child born during a marriage is the child of the husband? In California, the primary statute is Family Code § 7540, establishing the marital presumption of parentage, which presumes a child born to a wife living with her husband is the husband’s child, even… Read More »