How Does a Family Law Attorney Help in Child Support Matters?
First, what is meant by ‘child support’? According to childsupport.ca.gov, “Child support is the ongoing contribution of money to help pay for the living and medical expenses of a child or children until they are adults.” Perhaps even more significantly, it should be asked: what does child support mean to a family? It means as […]
Discussing the Benefits of a Prenup with your Partner
Unless you’re a lawyer or someone who loves paperwork, your first thought upon getting engaged is probably not getting a prenuptial agreement in place. However, considering a prenup following an engagement can offer each party valuable information and insight into their intended partner, and can provide clarity on what would happen in the event their […]
Prenups: A Business Protection Plan
Like marriage, starting a business is a labor of love. It requires innumerable hours of mental, emotional and sometimes physical work to build something from the ground up. Even with the best start, most business partners understand that there are risks associated with ownership — like property damage, theft, natural disasters, cybersecurity breaches and so […]
Transmutation and Waivers in California: How to Avoid Pitfalls and Ensure Compliance When Changing Property Ownership Between Spouses
What is a Transmutation? A “transmutation” is a postmarital transaction between spouses by which the character of real or personal property is changed or converted in one of the following three ways: separate property into community property, community property into separate property, or the separate property of one spouse into the separate property of the […]
Already Gifted Real Property to Your Child? Here’s How to Fix that Mistake and Preserve the Step-Up in Basis
If you have already gifted your home or other real estate to your child during your lifetime, you likely did so with the best intentions: to help them, avoid probate, or make the transition smoother. But you may now realize that the gift could cost your child significantly in capital gains taxes due to the […]
Mom and Dad’s House: Should You Get It as a Gift or Wait to Inherit It?
If your parents own a home or other real estate in California, it might be tempting to suggest they transfer it to you now—maybe as a gift, a joint title, or a “just in case” measure. But here’s the truth: asking for the property now could cost you and your parents way more than you […]
How to Find a Divorce Lawyer
In the U.S., lawyers in general aren’t terribly difficult to find. We’re the 5th most litigious country in the world, after all. According to the ABA, “Over the past decade, the number of lawyers nationwide has grown by more than 63,000 – an increase of 5% from 2013 to 2023.” When you’re specifically looking for […]
How Much Does A Child Custody Lawyer Cost in California?
As with any legal practice area, what a child custody lawyer costs in California may vary profoundly depending upon the individual lawyer, law firm, or complexity of the child custody case. The State Bar of California agrees, “Lawyers consider various factors when setting their fees. A lawyer who is well-known in a certain area of […]
How Much is a Divorce in California?
Good question. You’ll find a multitude of answers online. Search “how much is a divorce in California” and you’ll see everything from $139 to $26,300 with children, and beyond. The only consensus on the subject is that the average divorce in California costs $17,500, and that’s $2,500 more than it costs in most states. Why? […]
How To Negotiate A Fair Agreement? Don’t. Let Your Spousal Support Lawyer Do It For You
This post is going to start and end with the same sentence because I want to make sure everyone gets the message: No one who isn’t a skilled spousal support lawyer should ever try to negotiate their own spousal support agreement. The timing of the negotiation can be significant. Many spousal support lawyers fail to get a […]