Archive for the ‘ Divorce ’ Category

PROPERTY DIVISION IN A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE (WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW)

Posted on: Feb 26, 2020 by in Divorce
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In California, if you choose to divorce, you’ll need to make a number of hard choices. Who will get the house? Who will have custody of the kids? For many divorcing spouses, the hardest choices are about dividing and distributing the marital assets, property, and debts.

What should you know about property division in a California divorce, and how should you prepare for the process? If you’ll keep reading, you’ll find some important recommendations and details about dividing the property in a California divorce and whether or not you will need a Long Beach divorce attorney.

HOW DOES A DIVORCE BEGIN IN CALIFORNIA?

To file for divorce in this state, no married person is required to show that his or her spouse is in any way “at fault.” Either partner may request a divorce simply on the basis of “irreconcilable differences.”

Under California law, before you can file for a divorce, at least one spouse must be a resident in the state for at least six months and a resident in the county where the divorce papers are filed for at least three months.

A divorce in California can sometimes be finalized within six months, but if one spouse remains resolutely uncooperative, the process could take a year or longer.

WHAT PROPERTY IS MARITAL PROPERTY?

Property acquired by one or both spouses during the marriage is typically categorized as marital property, and exceptions are rare. Non-marital property is property personally owned before a marriage by the individual spouses, and in a divorce, it remains their individual property.

WHAT HAPPENS IN “COMMUNITY PROPERTY” STATES?

California is a “community property” state, so if divorcing spouses cannot agree regarding the division of property, the court will divide the property “fifty-fifty.” It’s always better for divorcing spouses to arrive at their own agreement rather than letting a court make the choices.

Agreements about property division, alimony, and children can save a divorcing couple a great deal of money, time, and unneeded aggravation. Courtroom battles over these matters can be lengthy and expensive.

Liquidating marital property usually isn’t required, but the law in California does require divorcing spouses to receive assets of “equal value” when the court decides how to divide the assets and properties.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF A SPOUSE HIDES ASSETS?

It may not sound difficult, but deciding what is marital property and deciding what is personal property can rapidly become complicated, especially if a couple’s properties and assets are extensive.

When a spouse attempts to hide assets, the right divorce attorney can usually uncover the assets. However, divorcing spouses should know that investigations of hidden assets increase the costs and delay the process.

HOW DOES THE PROPERTY AND ASSET DIVISION BEGIN?

Before a court divides marital property, the divorcing spouses must complete a disclosure declaration that lists all marital and personal property acquired during the marriage. Spouses must declare their assets, debts, incomes, and expenses.

The spouse who is seeking a divorce must file a disclosure form at the time he or she files divorce papers or in the next sixty days. The other spouse must file a disclosure form along with his or her response to the divorce filing or within the next sixty days after making the response.

It’s a violation of California law for a divorcing partner to fail to disclose completely any properties or assets. Everything that has value has to be disclosed.

DIVORCE COURTS TAKE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES SERIOUSLY

Failing to disclose any assets, properties, income, or debts exposes a divorcing spouse to court sanctions and other legal consequences.

Disclosures by the spouses facilitate the dividing of properties and assets by giving the court an accurate look at each spouse’s financial situation. In southern California, you should ask a Long Beach divorce attorney to help you with the financial disclosure forms.

When you divorce, if you own a business, you must protect it. If the business was launched while you were married, your attorney may still be able to persuade the court that your business is personal rather than marital property.

WHAT ABOUT REAL ESTATE THAT IS JOINTLY OWNED?

Real estate can make California divorces complicated. Because the value of real estate fluctuates, disputes over the value of a property are common. Decisions also must be made about liquidating properties or allowing one partner to retain a property and compensate the other partner.

When a couple or a court decides that the couple’s home or another property must be liquidated, the divorcing spouses will have to select a real estate agent and settle on a selling price.

Real estate disputes frequently delay divorce proceedings in California. A rightful division of properties can be exceedingly complicated, but real estate isn’t the only property that can complicate divorce. A business – or the family pet – could be at the center of a property quarrel.

WHAT IS YOUR DIVORCE ATTORNEY’S ROLE?

When you divorce in California, you’ll need a lawyer who can see to it that every asset and property is accurately characterized as marital or personal property and is then accurately valued. Your lawyer should protect your interests from the start to the finish of a California divorce.

In southern California, you’ll want to work with a Long Beach divorce attorney who has substantial experience in the division of assets, properties, and debts.

WHAT PART DO PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS PLAY IN DIVORCE?

In most divorces, if there is a prenuptial agreement (or a postnuptial agreement), it will determine how the marital assets and properties are to be divided. If a “prenup” is contested by one of the spouses in a divorce, the court may want answers to these questions:

  1. Was fraud or duress involved when the document was signed?
  2. Were assets and properties fully disclosed before the document was signed?
  3. Do any of the agreement’s terms conflict with California law?

California courts will enforce a prenuptial agreement signed in this state after 2002 if the partners had:

  1. full details about one another’s assets and properties when the document was signed
  2. seven full days to review and consider the agreement
  3. different attorneys, unless one of the partners expressly waived that right

Some property simply cannot be divided – the family pet, for example. But when the divorcing spouses are able to compromise somewhat, the divorce proceeding will be quicker, simpler, and less expensive.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DECIDE BEFORE A DIVORCE?

Before divorce proceedings begin, decide what assets and properties are important to you, and decide what you will be able to do without. Making these choices ahead of time can expedite the property division procedure and make the divorce experience a bit less overwhelming.

Honest communication between divorcing partners makes a divorce quicker, less stressful, and less expensive. The failure to disclose, the hiding of assets, or any other act of deception will only serve to make a divorce longer and more costly.

Although it’s an important part of the process, asset and property division is only one aspect of divorce. Divorce is always difficult. Before yours begins, make certain that you have the right attorney and the legal guidance that you’ll need. That’s your right.

Read one of our recent blogs here: ALIMONY AFTER A DIVORCE (WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ANNULMENT AND A DIVORCE?

Posted on: Jan 24, 2020 by in Divorce
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Couples who are considering divorce in California have several alternatives to a conventional, courtroom-centered divorce: annulment, legal separation, mediation, arbitration, and “collaborative” divorce.

A conventional divorce may be the right option for some couples, but most people would prefer to avoid a costly, contentious, and acrimonious divorce trial. Before you choose divorce as the way to end your marriage, take a serious look at the legal separation and annulment options with a Long Beach divorce attorney.

A legal separation stops short of a divorce, but for many couples, a legal separation is a practical alternative that accomplishes many of the goals that divorce accomplishes. While a legal separation is not quite a divorce, an annulment accomplishes the goals of a divorce – and more.

WHAT DOES AN ANNULMENT DO?

An annulment not only declares that a marriage is null and void, but it differs from divorce because, in effect, it’s retroactive. In other words, an annulled marriage is a marriage that was “invalid” to begin with and is now treated by the law as if it never happened.

However, what an annulment is and does is widely misunderstood. Unlike a divorce, an annulment is not available “on-demand.” It is actually a quite complicated and precise legal procedure, and it’s available only to certain couples and only for particular reasons.

Before you file for a divorce, learn more about legal separation and annulment. One of those options might be a better alternative for you and your marriage partner. If your marriage qualifies for an annulment, it is almost always the best way to end the marriage.

IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ANNULMENTS GRANTED IN CALIFORNIA?

However, while divorce is common in California, annulments are rare. Not every state offers the annulment option, and even in California, annulments are granted only for very specific reasons.

If none of the factors listed here apply to your marriage, an annulment probably will not be approved. Annulments are granted by the courts in California only in these circumstances:

  1. There was undue pressure on one of the partners: One spouse was bullied, intimidated, blackmailed, or forced into the marriage.
  2. At least one partner had an “unsound mind”: When the marriage took place, at least one partner lacked the mental capacity to understand what was occurring, or at least one partner was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time.
  3. There was fraud or deception: One spouse lied regarding something important to the marriage, like the ability to conceive children.
  4. The marriage cannot be consummated: One person cannot consummate the marriage and the other person did not know this prior to the wedding ceremony.
  5. The marriage was unlawful: If the partners are closely blood-related, if one was married to another person when the couple married, or if one spouse was too young to marry and did not have a parent’s consent, the marriage was illegal and qualifies for annulment.

Proving to a judge that your marriage meets one of these five conditions is not always easy. You will need the services, insights, and advice of a California divorce lawyer who has considerable experience handling annulment cases.

Incestuous and bigamous marriages are unlawful from the start, but because children may be involved and property needs to be divided, an annulment is required to conclude the marriage fairly and to prevent legal disputes regarding the marriage from emerging in the future.

HOW ARE CHILDREN AND PROPERTY DEALT WITH IN ANNULMENTS?

Annulled marriages are usually annulled swiftly, so dividing the marital assets, properties, and debts usually isn’t difficult, and annulled marriages rarely produce children. In most cases, that makes annulment one of the easiest family law procedures.

When a lengthier marriage must be annulled, if the partners can reach some agreements about the property and/or children, annulment is still a speedier process than divorce. If the partners cannot reach those agreements, a court will make these decisions regarding the marriage and annulment:

  1. child support, custody, and visitation terms
  2. division of marital assets, properties, and debts
  3. the resolution of any other claims or disputes

DO ANNULMENTS ENTAIL DEADLINES OR TIME LIMITS?

Annulments and divorces generally serve the same purposes, although an annulment is typically less costly and less emotional than a divorce. The reasons for the annulment are to dictate deadlines and time limits.

For example, an annulment because one partner was a minor who did not have parental consent to marry must be filed within four years of that person’s 18th birthday. Annulments that are sought for other reasons may have different time limits and deadlines.

But if you are seeking an annulment in California and you fail to meet the deadline, the annulment will not be granted, leaving divorce and legal separation as your remaining options.

HOW WILL A DIVORCE LAWYER HELP YOU OBTAIN AN ANNULMENT?

In southern California, you will need to have a Long Beach divorce attorney help you with filing for the annulment and completing the necessary paperwork. Without an attorney’s guidance, you could make a mistake that delays the process or causes the court to deny your annulment request.

When you seek to have a marriage annulled in California, you and your attorney will have to prepare a petition, a summons, a document stating the reason or reasons for the annulment request, and your explanation regarding why the annulment should be granted by the court.

The other spouse will be served with copies of these documents and given thirty days to respond to the petition for annulment.

A California annulment hearing must be conducted at least thirty days after annulment papers are served. A judge meets with the couple to consider the petition. The court will then grant or reject the petition, and if necessary, determine matters like property division and child custody.

KNOW YOUR LEGAL OPTIONS

Before making a final decision about ending your marriage, seek sound legal advice. Annulment is often the best option for those seeking to avoid the complications of divorce. If you do not meet the criteria for annulment, the right lawyer can help you consider the remaining options.

If you’re in southern California, let a Long Beach divorce attorney – with experience handling annulments – explain to you how the California annulment rules may apply to your own circumstances and help you decide if an annulment is the best way to conclude your marriage.

Read one of our recent blogs: ALIMONY AFTER A DIVORCE (WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW)

WHO GETS YOUR HOUSE IN A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE?

Posted on: May 11, 2019 by in Divorce
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When couples divorce, as you might imagine, the marital home is frequently a point of contention. Who gets the house when California couples divorce? If you are divorcing, will you be able to sell the house – or able to keep it and stay there?

If you’ll keep reading, those questions will be answered by a Long Beach divorce attorney, and you will learn more about your rights in a California divorce. When you divorce in this state, it is imperative to understand your rights and options.

When marriage partners purchase a house in this state, the house becomes “community” or “marital” property. If the two eventually divorce, the house must be “divided in half,” unless the spouses can voluntarily arrive at another agreement.

WHEN A COUPLE DIVORCES, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR THEIR HOME?

In fact, if a divorcing couple can agree regarding their house, they have several options for its division. One option is putting the house up for sale and dividing the proceeds. Another option – a buy-out – happens when one partner simply purchases the other’s share of the house.

If either spouse moves away from the home, will that move affect the divorce process – or the division of the home? You don’t forfeit the right to half of the home by moving away. But do not leave the house voluntarily unless you genuinely have to. Sleep on a sofa if necessary.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRY TO STAY IN YOUR HOME DURING A DIVORCE?

If you leave the house before or during the divorce process, your spouse’s lawyer may try to characterize the move as abandonment. In southern California, before you move, speak to a reliable Long Beach divorce attorney so that you fully understand your rights and legal status.

Some divorcing couples are able to share a house while their divorce is pending, but this will not be possible for most. If both partners agree to live under the same roof during the divorce, they will need clearly established rules and boundaries.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR A COUPLE’S REAL ESTATE DURING A DIVORCE?

When a divorce petition has been filed and then is served in California, Standard Family Law Restraining Orders automatically take effect. These are four court orders printed on the back of the FL-110 form, and they are served along with divorce papers.

One of these orders restrains both spouses from “transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property, real or personal, whether community, quasi-community or separate,” without the other’s consent in writing or an order from the court.

WHEN YOU SELL A HOME IN A DIVORCE, WHAT MUST BE CONSIDERED?

When divorcing spouses agree to put their house up for sale, it is a decision that cannot be hurried and must be arrived at thoughtfully. These questions must be considered:

  1. What will be the selling price? How will that be determined?
  2. Who will be the real estate agent? How will the choice be made?
  3. Who will have the home ready for prospective buyers to view?
  4. Will every decision require the agreement of the spouses?
  5. Apart from the mortgage, are there other encumbrances or liens?
  6. If a buyer makes an offer, what is the minimum figure that you can accept?

CAN THE MARITAL HOME BE SOLD WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT?

If the divorcing partners can agree, selling the house and dividing the proceeds resolves the matter of the marital home. Of course, the inability to agree is a leading reason for divorce, so in many divorces, no agreement is possible regarding how the marital home will be divided.

When spouses cannot agree, can the home still be placed on the market as the divorce process is pending? The answer is yes, provided that there is a compelling reason and you obtain a court order.

If the house is in danger of foreclosure, either spouse can request a court order to have it sold promptly. A court order to sell the house – in order to pay attorney’s fees – may also be requested if one partner is financially disadvantaged at the time the divorce procedure begins.

However, and if no urgent reason compels the immediate sale of the house, if neither spouse is buying out the other, and if the spouses cannot voluntarily reach a different agreement, in most California divorces, a court will order the house to be sold upon the finalization of the divorce.

HOW DO BUY-OUTS WORK?

Even without an agreement between the spouses, California courts actually have the power to order one spouse to buy-out the other spouse’s share of the marital home. This is quite rare and will only happen in complex, high-asset divorces.

If a buy-out can be agreed on, a court order allowing it will still be needed. Buy-outs do not necessarily require a cash payment. Payment can be made with other properties or assets, or even by compromising on contested matters like attorney fees and spousal support.

When the court issues an order for a buy-out, the attorneys and spouses must then identify an appraiser that all of the parties find trustworthy. The appraisal – if the spouses accept it – sets the home’s fair market value.

The home mortgage and any additional encumbrances are then subtracted from the fair market value to arrive at the equity value. The attorneys and spouses may then negotiate an exact buy-out figure.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER PROPERTIES?

What about a divorcing couple’s other real estate holdings, such as rental properties? A spouse must have a court order to sell any jointly owned real estate while the divorce process is pending.

Divorcing couples should also consider the impact on their income taxes of selling the marital home. They will need the services of a good tax advisor, a good real estate agent, and an experienced Long Beach divorce attorney.

A variety of factors must be taken into account if you sell the marital home as part of a divorce. Financial matters are an important part of every divorce, so the more assets and properties you own as a couple, the more complicated your divorce becomes.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTACT A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE LAWYER?

But whether your circumstances are affluent or modest, a number of disputes and difficulties will typically emerge in a divorce. You are going to need an attorney’s help. Disputes over children, alimony, and the family home are quite common.

If you are divorcing in California, you must be represented – from the very start – by a reliable California divorce lawyer who will ensure that you are treated fairly and justly throughout the divorce process. Having that lawyer’s help is your right.

What Every Business Owner Should Know About Valuation During A Divorce

Posted on: Apr 18, 2019 by in Divorce
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When spouses divorce in California, if there’s a dispute regarding marital assets and property, and if no prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement spells out another resolution, a California court will typically divide the couple’s assets and property in half.

Dividing properties and assets between divorcing spouses sounds easy, but dividing marital properties and assets – in many cases – is both difficult and contentious. A business is considered an asset, but how will a business be divided, and how can a divided business survive? Can divorce law firm in California help?

If you are a California business owner and you are divorcing or anticipating a divorce, you are about to learn how divorce can impact your operation. You may not necessarily lose half of your business in a divorce, but you will very much require a divorce attorney’s guidance and advice.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ASSETS WHEN DIVORCING SPOUSES CAN’T AGREE?

If there is no prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement, and if the spouses and their divorce lawyers cannot negotiate a division of the properties and assets that is acceptable to both spouses, the court will split the properties and assets “fifty-fifty” in the divorce proceeding.

More precisely, when divorcing partners cannot reach an agreement about dividing their assets and properties, the court will have the assets “characterized” – that is, every asset and property item will be identified as individual property or as marital property.

HOW DOES A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE COURT “CHARACTERIZE” A BUSINESS?

When your business is being characterized, the court will need answers to the following questions:

  • Did you inherit or create the business?
  • If it’s a start-up, was the business started before or during the marriage?
  • If it’s an inheritance, was it inherited before or during the marriage?
  • If it’s an inheritance, is it solely yours or is it co-owned with other heirs?
  • Do you have any business partners?

divorce paperwork

Don’t just presume that you’ll lose half of your business and that it will be characterized as marital property – everything hinges on details. For instance, if your business was created with your personal assets, you may be able to claim it as your personal property.

However, when one or both spouses have an ownership interest in a closely held corporation, that ownership interest is typically characterized as a marital asset and is therefore subject to division in a divorce proceeding in this state.

WHAT WILL A BUSINESS VALUATOR DO?

If a business – or the ownership interest in a business – must be divided, one or both spouses may hire a business valuator.

Every company is different, but typically a business valuator will request financial documents such as tax returns, financial statements, and balance sheets. A valuator may also meet with management and visit the operation’s headquarters, production facilities, and/or main offices.

financial disclosures

A business valuator will produce a business valuation report which estimates the current value and the projected future value of the business or the ownership interest in the business.

WHAT IF EITHER SPOUSE DISPUTES THE VALUATOR’S FINDINGS?

Divorcing spouses may or may not agree to accept the figures in the business valuation report. If they do not agree, or if they hired different valuators who arrive at different conclusions, the valuator(s) may have to testify in a divorce hearing about valuation techniques and methods.

If the parties cannot agree on a business valuation estimate, a judge is ultimately tasked with assigning a dollar value to the business and with dividing that value between the divorcing spouses.

WHAT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED IN A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE?

To divorce in California, both spouses must file detailed declarations of financial disclosure. The spouse who files divorce papers must complete a financial disclosure when filing for divorce or within sixty days after filing.

Let an experienced Cerritos divorce attorney help you complete the disclosure documents. Your declaration of financial disclosure must list all individual and marital properties and assets that the spouses have acquired before the marriage as well as during the marriage.

law clerks

All properties, assets, debts, and incomes must be fully disclosed by both divorcing spouses. The failure to make a full financial disclosure is illegal and may be considered perjury.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SPEAK TO A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE LAW FIRM?

Financial disclosures provide the court with a precise snapshot of each partner’s financial condition, and that helps the court determine how to divide the marital properties and assets fairly.

If you own a business in California, it is vital to “get in front of” a divorce before your business is negatively affected. Even before you file divorce papers – or as soon as you know that your spouse is filing for divorce – speak at once to an experienced Cerritos divorce attorney.

HOW CAN YOUR BUSINESS BE PROTECTED IN ADVANCE OF A DIVORCE?

These recommendations for business owners will help you to protect the business from some of the problems that may arise in a divorce:

  • Maintain accurate, comprehensive business records. Keep personal finances entirely separate from business finances.
  • Obtain an objective, accurate, and precise valuation of your business in advance – to make sure that your spouse doesn’t receive more than his or her fair share.

In your divorce negotiations, you may have to negotiate other assets to keep the ownership of your business. For example, you might have to sacrifice a retirement account or some real estate as compensation for half of the operation.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS WHEN SPOUSES ARE CO-OWNERS OF A BUSINESS?

If they co-own a business, divorcing spouses may choose to continue as partners, and neither spouse will need to sacrifice his or her share of the operation. A valuation won’t even be required in such cases. Another option is simply to sell a co-owned business and split the proceeds.

As a California business owner, unless you’re a sole proprietor or you co-own the business exclusively with your spouse, your business needs a business plan, an operating agreement, or by-laws that spell out what will happen when an owner divorces.

You should also ask an attorney to review any business documents or contracts that may affect your business interests in a California divorce proceeding.

WHAT MUST BE AVOIDED WHEN A BUSINESS OWNER DIVORCES?

What you and your divorce attorney can’t allow is to let your spouse take half of the business – and the profits – and also receive alimony indefinitely. A good divorce lawyer can and must make sure that “double-dipping” by your spouse is not part of your divorce settlement.

Divorce is always difficult, but if you own a business, you must focus on your business interests. A divorce doesn’t have to ruin the business, but you must have the right divorce lawyer’s help.

Before you seek a divorce, or if you’re served with divorce papers, contact an experienced California divorce lawyer who will protect your business and your long-term business interests. Meeting with a divorce attorney as early as possible is the best strategy, and it’s your right.

What Is The Process For Separation In California?

Posted on: Mar 18, 2019 by in Divorce
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Here in California, married couples who are prepared to end a marriage may choose from several legal alternatives. Their options include a divorce trial, mediation, arbitration, “collaborative” divorce, annulment, and legal separation.

If you are dissolving your marriage, which of these options is best for you? Many people who are ending a marriage automatically choose divorce, but the legal separation option should be seriously considered.

How does legal separation work in California, and how does it differ from annulment or divorce? Can a divorce lawyer in Cerritos help?

EXACTLY WHAT IS LEGAL SEPARATION?

Legal separation and divorce have many similarities but also several important distinctions. Legal separation is not divorce, but for many California couples, it provides a practical alternative to divorce.

Legally separated spouses are still legally married, but in most ways, they live as if they’re divorced. They don’t share a residence, and if they’re parents, they’ll need to reach an agreement – or have an agreement imposed by the court – regarding custody, visitations, and child support.

WHY DO COUPLES CHOOSE LEGAL SEPARATION?

Not all couples who legally separate end up divorcing. A legal separation gives the spouses an opportunity to re-examine their marital situation before either spouse makes a final decision to divorce. Some separated couples are able to reconcile their differences and save their marriages.

Some couples choose to separate legally rather than seek an annulment or a divorce because their religious values prevent divorce. Some choose legal separation to hang onto benefits that might be lost in a divorce.

Still, others look at a legal separation as a sort of “trial” divorce – separating to find out “what it’s like” before permanently dissolving the marriage.

When a married couple no longer wants to live together, but one or both spouses cannot or will not divorce, or if a spouse simply is not ready for divorce, legal separation may offer the best legal remedy.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A LEGAL SEPARATION?

Simply living apart from one another does not create what California calls a “legal separation.” Spouses must file papers with the court, and they will need some help from an experienced Cerritos family law attorney.

Although at least one spouse must be a California resident for at least six months in order to file for a divorce, there is no such requirement for a legal separation in this state.

If you have not resided in California for a full six months – that is, you are a new resident – you may be able to get around the six-month residency rule for divorce by filing for a legal separation first.

If you are new in this state, you can sometimes speed up the divorce process if you file first for legal separation. California lets legally separated spouses “convert” a separation into a divorce as soon as the legal separation process is finalized.

DO MOST LEGALLY SEPARATED COUPLES RECONCILE OR DIVORCE?

Eventually, partners who legally separate either reconcile or divorce. The U.S. Census Bureau tells us that fourteen percent of the couples who legally separate eventually reconcile. The truth is, for most couples who choose it, legal separation is a prelude to divorce.

In California, both partners must consent to a legal separation. If the partner being served with legal separation papers objects to a legal separation, the other partner may have to seek a divorce or remain in the marriage.

The paperwork a legal separation is just as burdensome and complicated as the paperwork for a California divorce. In both procedures, a couple can voluntarily resolve questions like spousal support and child custody, or a court will make and impose those decisions with a court order.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN COURT DURING THE LEGAL SEPARATION PROCESS?

In a legal separation, a California judge may issue orders for child custody, child support, and/or spousal support (alimony). Additionally, in a legal separation, one partner may remain as a beneficiary of the other partner’s life insurance.

However, a spouse in a legal separation may or may not be covered by the other spouse’s health insurance plan. It depends on the policy, so you may want to review your health insurance policy before taking any legal action.

In both legal separations and divorces, a couple can save time and money – and avoid inconvenience and acrimony – by finding as much common ground as possible before initiating a divorce or a legal separation.

HOW CAN A TOP FAMILY LAW FIRM HELP YOU?

What does it take to obtain a legal separation? The first and most important step is contacting an experienced Cerritos family law attorney. A good attorney’s advice, insights, and guidance is imperative if you are seeking a legal separation or a divorce in Southern California.

A good family lawyer will help you with the extensive legal paperwork required for a legal separation. If you are a parent, there is additional paperwork. There is also a filing fee, but anyone with a low income or receiving public benefits can request a fee waiver.

Before you make a final decision about dissolving your marriage, it is a good idea to seek out some advice. If there’s a close friend you trust and you routinely confide in one another, talk with that person.

divorcing couple

Do you belong to a faith community? It may offer counseling that’s just right for you. Counseling resources are abundant across the state in both the private and public sectors.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT A DIVORCE ATTORNEY?

While a legal separation isn’t a divorce, there may still be important issues to resolve. Which partner will pay for what? What happens to the family home? If the spouses are parents, which parent will have custody and make the important decisions about education and healthcare.

In most cases, a reliable, experienced family law attorney can help you – or both of you – resolve these questions and obtain a legal separation or a divorce. If you are considering – or anticipating – a divorce, speak to a good family law attorney at once about all of your options.

When a marriage ends, you must protect your interests and your future. Make the call to a family law attorney and get the sound legal advice you need before any legal separation or divorce procedure even begins. Your future will depend on it.

Do Divorces Increase After V-Day?

Posted on: Feb 13, 2019 by in Divorce
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hearts and chocolate

You may be surprised to learn that the day after Valentine’s Day begins the annual busy season for Cerritos divorce lawyers. Research published by AttorneyFee.com indicates that divorce filings each February in the U.S. are about eighteen percent above the number of filings in an average month.

A second legal site, Avvo.com, reports that there is an annual forty percent rise in the number of married persons who are seeking legal advice about divorce in the days immediately following Valentine’s Day.

Why is there a spike in the number of divorce filings every February? Is there something wrong with Valentine’s Day, or are there other reasons for the seasonal increase in divorce filings?

IS VALENTINE’S DAY A REASON WHY PEOPLE GET DIVORCED?

Richard Komaiko is a co-founder of AttorneyFee.com. Komaiko tells CNN that “There’s a very large number of people who are considering the divorce all the time, deciding whether or not to file. On Valentine’s Day, they take stock of things.”

Why Valentine’s Day? There are several good reasons. For many people, summers are dedicated to vacations and fun, and the holidays are for families, so the best time to file for a divorce is when the holidays are over, the year is still new, and some extra cash is expected from the IRS.

ARE TAX REFUNDS THE REAL REASON WHY FEBRUARY IS DIVORCE SEASON?

Many contend that tax season is divorce season because Valentine’s Day is generally when people start receiving tax refunds. In southern California, if you plan to pay for a divorce with your IRS tax refund this year, consult at once with an experienced Cerritos divorce attorney.

At least one partner’s income, finances, and lifestyle will probably change quite dramatically after a divorce, so if you are intending to use your tax refund to pay for a divorce this tax season, you must be prepared to deal with the financial changes and challenges that a divorce entails.

If you seek a divorce after receiving your tax refund this year, you should be aware that you could be asking for genuine financial trouble if the financial particulars of your case are not reviewed thoroughly and handled properly by a knowledgeable and skill divorce lawyer.

WHAT FINANCIAL STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE PRIOR TO A DIVORCE?

To prepare – wisely – for a divorce, go ahead and take these six key financial steps:

Open one or more new bank accounts in your name only.
Thoroughly review your financial condition and your credit report.
Create a practical personal budget that works, and stick with it.
Cancel any joint credit cards that you share with your spouse.
You may need to change the beneficiary of your bank accounts and life insurance.
Speak at once with a good California divorce attorney.

It is quite easy to see why so many people wait for a tax refund and then file for a divorce. Tax refunds, however, may not be the only reason why February is the month with the most divorce filings.

DOES VALENTINE’S DAY “TRIGGER” DIVORCE FILINGS?

Alton Abramowitz, the president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, suspects that Valentine’s Day itself – and the expectation of romance on the holiday – may in fact be the trigger that brings many already-troubled marriages to the point of divorce.

Abramowitz tells CNN, “There’s always the clients who come in a day or two after saying, ‘I can’t believe it, I made this beautiful dinner for my husband for Valentine’s Day, he called to say he was stuck in the office and then didn’t come home at all.'”

For whatever reason you may choose to divorce, do not even think about starting a divorce in California without the sound legal guidance and advice that a seasoned divorce lawyer can offer. Far too much – your future, your finances, and if you are a parent, your kids – will be at stake.

HOW MUCH WILL A DIVORCE COST IN CERRITOS, CA?

The cost of a divorce will depend on precisely what legal services you need. When everything is in dispute, a divorce costs more, but when divorcing spouses can agree, and when issues like custody, child support, and alimony can be resolved in advance, you will pay significantly less.

However, when divorcing spouses can’t agree on anything, a trial to resolve their disputes can be quite costly in California. Reaching some voluntary mutual agreements is realistically the only way to reduce the cost of a divorce in this state.

Still, most divorce attorneys can arrange a realistic and practical payment plan that will work for almost anyone. And under California law, if one partner rejects settlement agreements in a way that drives up litigation costs, a court may order that partner to pay for the other spouse’s lawyer.

A judge may also order one spouse to pay the other’s legal fees if a spouse is so disadvantaged financially that the proceeding would otherwise be entirely unfair. A disadvantaged spouse may ask a judge to examine the couple’s finances and to guarantee the fairness of the proceeding.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE?

Of course, because every divorce is different, if you are divorcing, considering a divorce, or anticipating a divorce in southern California this year, you will need to have a qualified divorce lawyer explain what the fees and the other costs will be in your own situation.

You already know that a divorce is an emotional experience, but it will be important to stay focused on your finances. Take full advantage of the legal advice, insights, representation, resources, and experience that your divorce attorney offers.

You do not need to prove “fault” to divorce in California. To obtain a divorce in this state, at least one spouse must be a resident of the state for at least six successive months and must be a resident of the county where the divorce petition is filed for at least three consecutive months.

A good divorce attorney’s help is your right. Do not be intimidated, and do not let financial anxiety hold you back. Reliable legal help is here for you in southern California, but you must take the first step and make the call to an experienced Cerritos divorce attorney.

Alternatives To Divorce In California

Posted on: Dec 19, 2018 by in Divorce
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A divorce can be stressful, tedious, and exhausting. A trial can make it worse. If you are divorcing, considering divorce, or anticipating divorce in southern California, your first move should be to discuss your options and rights with an experienced Cerritos divorce attorney.

Family law and the laws governing divorce started slowly changing in the 19th century, but the biggest changes have happened since the 1960s. Spouses no longer need “grounds” for divorce, for example. No-fault divorce is the law now in all fifty states.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO A COURTROOM DIVORCE TRIAL?

Even the way that people get divorced has changed. Here in California, for instance, it is no longer necessary to have a courtroom divorce trial. Divorcing couples can avoid going to court – and can save time and money – by turning to arbitration, mediation, or “collaborative” divorce.

Especially if you are considering or anticipating a divorce in California, keep reading. This is a brief discussion of mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce – the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options available to those who are divorcing in this state.

fighting couple

Divorce trials are on the public record. In a divorce trial, personal details about your finances and your children are made available to anyone who accesses public records. However, alternatives like mediation, arbitration, and collaborative divorce can keep your family’s details private.

WHAT IS DIVORCE MEDIATION?

In recent decades, divorcing spouses in California have turned increasingly to divorce mediation. In a mediated divorce, an impartial third-party mediator guides the divorcing partners toward agreements on custody and support, but the mediator has no authority to impose an agreement.

The divorce mediator may be a mental health professional or an attorney. Mediation is usually conducted in a number of meetings over a period of several weeks or months. If the spouses have attorneys, they may advise the spouses and draft or review any agreements that are reached.

If a California divorce involves a dispute over child custody, California’s family courts will order the spouses to try mediation before they take the dispute into a courtroom hearing. Mediators encourage parents to cooperate on parenting issues in the best interests of the children.

Divorcing spouses in southern California – whether or not they are parents – can learn more about the mediation option by speaking to a skilled divorce lawyer.

WHAT IS AN ARBITRATED DIVORCE?

Divorcing partners in California may instead choose the arbitration process. An arbitrator can often resolve divorce-related issues quickly. If the partners agree ahead of time to accept the arbitrator’s decisions, those decisions are final.

arbitration process

The arbitration process is comparable to a trial but less formal. Arguments are presented by the attorneys, evidence is offered, and witnesses may be examined and cross-examined. Arbitrators decide the final conditions and terms of a divorce based on the testimony and the evidence.

Arbitration gives divorcing partners these three advantages over a courtroom divorce trial: control, speed, and privacy. Spouses are given all of the time they need to present all of their evidence. Still, arbitration can often resolve a divorce in weeks rather than months.

Most divorce arbitrators in California are retired family law judges or practicing family law attorneys, so they know the law. If arbitration is your choice for divorce, choosing a good arbitrator is imperative.

HOW ARE MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION DISTINCT?

Mediation and arbitration are often misunderstood and confused. Arbitrators hear both sides of a divorce case and make a binding decision. Mediation is different; it’s basically managed by the divorcing partners themselves. Mediators have no power to enforce any rulings or decisions.

Nevertheless, a skilled divorce mediator or a talented divorce arbitrator can be central to a smooth, quick divorce. The primary goal of divorce arbitration and divorce mediation is the resolution of divorce-related disputes without the need for a trial.

Both mediation and arbitration are cost-effective alternatives that provide a fair opportunity for parting spouses to resolve the disputed issues in their divorce.

WHAT IS A COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE?

Like mediation and arbitration, the collaborative divorce alternative encourages cooperation and requires mutual respect between the divorcing spouses.

cooperation between spouses

Also like mediation and arbitration, a collaborative divorce procedure can keep a couple out of the courtroom while allowing the pair to benefit from sound legal advice and experienced legal representation throughout the process.

What makes the collaborative divorce process distinct is that it involves specialists such as attorneys, mental health authorities, and financial experts. In the collaborative divorce process, these specialists are referred to as “coaches.”

If children are involved, another “coach” may be brought in to represent their needs and concerns. An impartial financial “coach” may be asked to help resolve financial disputes.

HOW ARE DISPUTES RESOLVED IN A COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE?

Collaborative divorce helps divorcing spouses and their children move forward in constructive and positive ways without contention, acrimony, or recrimination.

The spouses are involved at every stage of a collaborative divorce procedure. Instead of letting a judge or an arbitrator impose a resolution, the spouses collaboratively decide – with the help of their “coaches” – on the terms and conditions of the divorce.

Both partners must agree in advance to approach the collaborative divorce process in good faith. To guarantee the integrity of collaborative divorce, partners must agree that they won’t take the case to trial and that they will settle their disputes during the collaborative divorce process.

If the collaborative divorce process fails, which is rare, the same lawyers can’t be involved later if the divorce becomes a courtroom trial.

HOW WILL A GOOD DIVORCE LAW FIRM HELP YOU?

Some divorce lawyers still rely primarily on litigation, but the general trend in family law today is to protect a client’s interests while reducing any potential for conflict.

Alternative dispute resolution methods

Alternative dispute resolution methods also allow California’s family courts to concentrate on the cases where partners cannot resolve their differences except by going to trial.

When you and your partner divorce in California, whether you choose arbitration, mediation, collaborative divorce, or a conventional courtroom trial, you will need a divorce lawyer who is sensitive to your concerns – a lawyer who routinely handles divorces for a variety of clients.

In southern California, if you are divorcing, or if you are merely seeking advice about divorce, get the reliable advice and aggressive representation that you’ll need by speaking promptly with a reliable Cerritos divorce attorney. A good attorney’s help is your legal right.

Subpoenas In Divorce Cases

Posted on: Oct 15, 2018 by in Divorce
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A divorce is not easy, but it can be a lot harder when the person you are divorcing will not even cooperate in the divorce process. An uncooperative spouse can make it quite difficult to obtain the evidence you will need to ensure that you receive a just and fair divorce settlement.

Thanks to uncooperative spouses, divorce attorneys in Cerritos often hear questions like these from their clients:

1. How can I prove that my wife or husband is not too sick to work?
2. How can I prove that my wife or husband is working and paid “under the table?”
3. How can I prove that my wife or husband is hiding assets?

If you are getting a divorce in this state, and if your spouse is not cooperating, you’ll need to know how to obtain information about your spouse’s income and assets. You’ll learn that below.

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT DIVORCE IN CALIFORNIA?

But the most important thing to know about divorce in southern California is that from the very beginning of the process, you must have the insights and guidance that an experienced Cerritos divorce lawyer can provide.

So how can you acquire the documentation and evidence that you’ll need for your divorce? By using subpoenas. In California, a subpoena is one of the most powerful legal tools that your divorce attorney can use on your behalf.

A partner who is hiding assets during a divorce is trying to hold onto more than his or her share of the marital assets while keeping the other partner from receiving his or her fair share. It’s a completely illegal and unethical strategy, but it happens all too often in divorces in California.

Subpoenas may also compel unwilling witnesses to testify. Someone who is a friend of both spouses may not want to become involved in their divorce. Divorces often have genuinely high stakes, so some parties may be unwilling to offer their testimony or other valuable information.

HOW CAN A SUBPOENA HELP YOU?

A subpoena, however, can legally force an unwilling party to participate.

A subpoena is a court order; the recipient of a subpoena must comply with the order unless that person has an acceptable legal reason for not complying. There are several types of subpoenas, but these are the subpoenas that are most likely to be used in a California divorce proceeding:

1. Civil Subpoena for Personal Appearance at Trial or Hearing (form SUBP-001): This subpoena compels a witness to appear at a trial or evidentiary hearing.

2. Civil Subpoena for Personal Appearance and Production of Documents (form SUBP-002): This subpoena includes an order to the witness to bring a certain item or items of evidence when he or she appears and testifies at the trial or evidentiary hearing.

3. Deposition Subpoena for Production of Business Records (form SUBP-010): This subpoena requests business records that, in a divorce, may include bank and credit card statements, investment accounts, employment records, medical records, and more.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A DIVORCE IF ONE SPOUSE IS DISHONEST?

SUBP-010 is especially helpful in divorce situations where one spouse is suspected of underreporting income or hiding assets.

Some people are quite creative when they underreport income or hide assets. Some divorcing spouses try to hide assets in foreign banks. Others temporarily shift ownership of their assets to a friend or a relative. All kinds of deceptions have been used.

If you reasonably believe that the partner you are divorcing has not provided the court with complete and accurate financial disclosure information, inform your divorce lawyer immediately.

If your spouse tries to deceive the court regarding property and assets, he or she could be compelled to pay your attorney’s fees or could even be ordered to jail for contempt of court. California judges have the authority to deal harshly with deception in divorce cases.

HOW WILL A DIVORCE ATTORNEY HELP YOU?

The frequent need for subpoenas in divorce cases is one reason why, if you are divorcing in southern California, you must have a reputable divorce attorney representing you and advocating on your behalf.

If you are not an attorney, you probably will not know the different types of subpoenas and how they are issued. Your divorce attorney routinely handles these matters and knows what it takes to protect your rights in a divorce case.

At your first consultation with your divorce attorney, the two of you should review the facts in your case and try to determine which persons you may need as witnesses and which records you may need to obtain – in other words, what subpoenas will need to be requested.

Your divorce attorney will help you to identify the types of records you may need to subpoena for your divorce proceeding.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF SOMEONE IGNORES A SUBPOENA?

Ignoring a subpoena can place someone in contempt of court, which is punishable with fines, and in some cases, time in jail.

You could also be penalized if you try to obtain evidence for your case illegally. For example, if you believe that documents in your spouse’s computer can prove that your spouse is under-reporting his or her income, you can’t simply hack into the computer or steal the password.

Instead, have your divorce attorney request a subpoena for the information you need. That’s the legal way to do it. Courts will only allow evidence that meets admissibility requirements.

Subpoenas are sometimes misused in divorce cases. An unethical lawyer might seek a subpoena, not for a good legal reason, but simply to upset and distract the other side. If this happens in your divorce, your own attorney should contest any requests for unnecessary subpoenas.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTACT A DIVORCE LAWYER?

Here in southern California, if you are considering a divorce, or if you are served with divorce papers, you are going to need legal help as early as possible in the divorce process. You will need to speak at once with an experienced Cerritos divorce lawyer.

Your divorce lawyer will explain your rights, your options, and how the law applies in your own divorce. Your attorney will protect your long-term best interests and see to it that you are treated fairly throughout the divorce procedure.

When you divorce in California, a lawyer’s help is imperative, and moreover, it is your right.

The Risks Of Deleting Your Facebook Page During A Divorce

Posted on: Aug 16, 2018 by in Divorce
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As you may already know, most divorce lawyers in the state of California will advise you to avoid Facebook – and in fact, to avoid social media altogether – during the divorce process. You are about to learn the reasons why.

What you may not know is that your Cerritos divorce lawyer may also advise you against deleting your Facebook page and your other social media accounts during a divorce.

WHY SHOULD YOU AVOID POSTING ONLINE DURING A DIVORCE?

If you are divorcing in California, planning to divorce, or anticipating that your spouse is planning to divorce you, you should refrain from posting anything on social media until your divorce is finalized.

Whatever you post online could be scrutinized, twisted, and used against you.

Of course, almost everyone relies on technology far more than we did even twenty years ago. Today, millions share videos, pictures, and personal details on sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The impact of these social media platforms – on all of us – has been nothing less than revolutionary. Attorneys, courts, and state legislatures are now dealing with legal questions about social media that did not even exist prior to the 21st century.

HOW ARE THE COURTS MAKING USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA?

Criminal prosecutors in all fifty states, for example, regularly peruse the online accounts of criminal suspects and their accomplices for status updates and photographs that may be used against defendants in criminal cases.

Attorneys for the defendants in personal injury cases seek online evidence that an injury victim is not as injured as that victim claims.

And in divorce cases in California, the evidence gleaned from social media accounts is typically used to discredit a spouse’s honesty and character.

Dean Tong, speaking for the American Board of Forensic Examiners, warns: “I can tell you any post on social media can be introduced into evidence on a court record by an attorney and used against a litigant, negatively, in family court.”

CAN FACEBOOK HELP OR HURT YOU IN A DIVORCE?

If your Facebook page shows that you are a devoted and responsible parent, that may help you slightly in a child custody battle, but a Facebook page that characterizes you as a “party animal” or a “thug” cannot help you with any aspect of your divorce.

On either side of a divorce proceeding, posting something that you think is harmless might come back to hurt you.

You may want to discuss the details with an experienced divorce attorney who can address your concerns regarding your social media accounts and the potential role those accounts can play in the divorce process.

While it is imperative to avoid posting anything online while your divorce is pending, many divorce lawyers are now also saying that you should not close or delete your Facebook account or other social media pages when you or your spouse initiate a divorce procedure.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF KEEPING YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT?

When you keep your social media accounts open, the spouse you are divorcing – and the acquaintances of either partner – may, in fact, post items that will end up being helpful to your side of the case.

Do not close out your Facebook account unless your divorce lawyer specifically tells you to do so.

Possibly the most important reason that a divorcing spouse should not delete a Facebook account is because it may come under the scrutiny of the discovery process in a divorce procedure. Your spouse’s attorney conceivably could ask the court to order you not to delete the account.

The lawyers on both sides of the divorce will want to access and examine your Facebook page, so you do not want to be accused of hiding or destroying evidence.

WHAT CAN A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT REVEAL?

Your history on Facebook is usually available from its beginning. If a divorcing spouse doesn’t delete anything and keeps the account open from the beginning, it could reveal a great deal about why the partners are divorcing – or it may reveal nothing at all.

Your divorce attorney will take a look at your Facebook page – and at your spouse’s, if it is available – and will explain how specific posts may be used to help or hurt your case.

Frankly, everyone should understand that nothing posted online is ever truly private or ever genuinely and entirely deleted. Your spouse’s divorce lawyer may be able to acquire even the posts that you’ve deleted and use the information in those posts against you.

WHAT ABOUT FACEBOOK’S TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY SETTINGS?

In fact, if you read Facebook’s terms of service, you learn that the platform’s privacy settings may keep others from seeing your posts but offer you no protection if a court – or your spouse’s divorce lawyer – wants access to posts that you thought were protected by privacy settings.

A word of warning: Do not try to “hack” into your spouse’s Facebook page or any other social media account during a divorce if those accounts are not public or if you have been blocked.

Creating a phony identity online and then trying to “friend” the spouse you are divorcing is an extremely bad idea. Instead, let your divorce attorney obtain legally the information that will be useful to you in court.

Any online effort to deceive will probably fail – and bring the court’s condemnation on you.

WHAT DO DIVORCE LAWYERS SAY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA?

The impact of social media on divorce cases cannot be underestimated. Even back in 2010, more than eighty percent of the divorce lawyers surveyed by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers said the impact of social media on divorce was substantial and on the rise.

When you first speak to a qualified divorce attorney about obtaining a divorce, expect that attorney to ask you about your social media accounts.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT DURING A DIVORCE?

When you divorce, you must be cautious even sending texts and emails. Do not write anything electronically that you would not want your spouse’s attorney to read out loud in court.

You can expect that a divorce proceeding will be uncomfortable and embarrassing, so you do not want to make things even harder on yourself.

Get the legal help that you need at the very start of the divorce process – that’s your right – and then adhere to your attorney’s advice and recommendations.

Mediation Vs. Litigation In A Divorce

Posted on: Apr 13, 2018 by in Divorce
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In the past, a divorce typically meant that divorcing spouses had to endure a long and costly courtroom trial. But today, many divorcing couples in California are choosing a “mediated” divorce rather than a “litigated” divorce.

If you are divorcing or considering divorce in the state of California – or if your spouse is divorcing you – you can both save time and money, and avoid a great deal of aggravation, by choosing the mediation option. Can a Cerrritos divorce lawyer help?

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A MEDIATED DIVORCE?

The advantages of a mediated divorce – particularly when compared against an acrimonious, litigated courtroom trial – are substantial. Nothing positive can emerge from an emotionally-charged, contentious courtroom divorce.

For most couples who are divorcing in California, the disputed issues in a divorce can be handled more appropriately through the mediation process and away from the courtroom.

A mediated divorce costs considerably less than a litigated divorce.

You and the spouse you are divorcing – and not a judge or some other complete stranger – remain in control of your futures throughout the mediation procedure.

Particularly in high-conflict and high-asset divorce cases, mediation is better because it is non-adversarial.

IS DIVORCE MEDIATION CONFIDENTIAL?

Another benefit is that divorce mediation in California is confidential, so there’s no public record. That can be important if you and your spouse are disputing the division of your marital property and assets.

Every detail of a courtroom trial, however, is on the public record.

And by settling your divorce through the mediation process and outside of the courtroom, you’ll ensure that the final divorce agreement meets your needs and your ex-spouse’s – rather than the arbitrary needs and requirements of California law.

WHAT IF MEDIATION ISN’T THE RIGHT OPTION?

Of course, mediation is not necessarily the right option for every couple that is seeking to divorce.

If the divorcing partners simply cannot come to agreements on matters like spousal support, the division of assets and properties, or child custody, the couple will probably have to endure a conventional courtroom divorce trial.

But when a divorcing couple can cooperate, whether it’s for the children or some other reason, then mediation is probably the right option.

Especially when you consider the financial and emotional cost of an adversarial divorce trial, mediation makes genuinely good sense. Divorcing spouses who are not comfortable with the idea of mediation probably just need to learn more about the process.

HOW DOES DIVORCE MEDIATION WORK IN THIS STATE?

You and your partner, with the advice of your divorce lawyers, will hire a certified, neutral, third-party mediator. A mediator’s role is to point and guide the divorcing spouses toward a divorce settlement that is just, fair, and acceptable to both spouses.

You should meet with a prospective mediator personally before the mediation sessions begin. Your mediator must be someone you can trust and someone who can put you at ease.

Do not begin the process until you’ve found that individual.

Divorce mediators have no capacity to order or compel anyone in any way, so mediation depends almost entirely on the sincere and forthright participation of the spouses. Nevertheless, it’s important to have a skilled and experienced mediator.

When a mediator has been selected, the process generally begins with an initial meeting between spouses and the mediator to outline the goals of the mediation and to define the issues and disputes in the divorce.

WHAT IS THE MEDIATOR’S ROLE IN A DIVORCE MEDIATION?

Typically, both spouses discuss their positions on the matters in dispute. The mediator may meet with the divorcing spouses together and separately several times, seeking common ground that might provide the basis for agreement.

A mediator can help with specifics such as payment and visitation schedules. Mediation seeks to resolve all matters disputed in the divorce and create a final, written divorce agreement.

If the mediation is successful, the mediator will draft a settlement agreement for approval by the court. Courts almost always sign off on these agreements provided that they are fair and provided that – if there are children – the interests of the children have been placed first.

But if one partner is not honest and forthright during mediation, you may not be able to arrive at a final agreement. Cooperation – from both partners – is imperative for a successful divorce mediation.

When mediation fails, your divorce case moves to the courtroom, where it will take more time and cost more money.

If that happens in southern California, you’ll need to be represented by an experienced and aggressive Long Beach divorce attorney.

WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL DIVORCE MEDIATION?

Mediation probably will not succeed when divorcing spouses blame and accuse each other, when marital assets and properties are disputed, and when drug, alcohol, or abuse issues are involved. These divorces are usually resolved in courtroom divorce trials.

Mediation works best when divorcing spouses are honest with one another, want to remain on good terms, don’t blame one another, and are able to disagree without anger or acrimony.

Unfortunately, in too many divorces, agreements cannot be reached, and one spouse is left with no choice except to take the other spouse to court – and ask the court to order a fair divorce settlement.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A DIVORCE TRIAL?

In contrast to a mediated divorce, a litigated divorce can be lengthy, frustrating, and complicated. A divorce trial in California can include multiple court appearances, witnesses, subpoenas, motions, and delays.

If a voluntary mutual agreement is simply not possible, and your divorce goes to trial in southern California, you’ll need an attorney who will present the strongest possible case on your behalf – and if you have children, on their behalf as well.

Only judges hear and decide on California divorce trials, so if your divorce must go to court, there won’t be a jury.

But whether you choose mediation or litigation, and whether your divorce is contested or uncontested, in southern California, you must have the advice and representation that an experienced Long Beach divorce attorney will provide.

Courtroom divorce trials are still conducted every day that the courts are open in California, and when the issues are dispute, a courtroom trial remains the final alternative. But for many divorcing couples in California, mediation will be better.