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What Is a Private Judge in a California Divorce?
A private judge is an attorney or retired judge the parties hire by agreement to decide their divorce case.
The Jewish Get: Understanding Religious Divorce and Its Intersection With California Family Law
A Get is the religious divorce document required under Jewish law, and it intersects with California family law.
How Is Carried Interest Divided in a California Divorce?
Carried interest is often a fund professional’s most valuable asset, and how it is divided turns on when it was earned.
The Marital Standard of Living in California Divorce: What It Is and Why It Matters
The marital standard of living is the lifestyle a couple kept during marriage, and it matters in setting spousal support.
Can You Appeal a Family Court Decision in California?
You can appeal a family court decision, but the deadline is short and the court reviews only for legal error or abuse of discretion.
Can I Make My Spouse Pay My Attorney's Fees in a California Divorce?
A California court can order the higher-earning spouse to pay some or all of the other spouse’s attorney’s fees and costs.
What Are the Tax Consequences of Dividing Assets in a Divorce?
Dividing property in a divorce is usually tax-free at transfer, but the recipient takes the original cost basis and its hidden tax.
What Is a QDRO? Dividing Retirement Benefits in a California Divorce
A QDRO is a court order directing a retirement plan to divide benefits between the account holder and a former spouse.
How Does California Handle Support When Income Includes Bonuses?
California uses a Smith Ostler order to set support on base pay and add a set percentage of bonuses when they are received.
Watts Charges and Epstein Credits in California Divorce: What They Mean and How They Work
Watts charges and Epstein credits are financial adjustments for how spouses use or pay for property after separation.
How Does Discovery Work in a High Asset California Divorce?
Discovery tools like interrogatories, depositions, and subpoenas help verify what assets really exist in a high-asset divorce.
The Moore Marsden Calculation in California Divorce: What It Is and How It Works
Moore Marsden is the formula for how much of a home bought before marriage with separate funds belongs to the community.
What Can You Do About Parental Alienation in California?
California doesn’t treat parental alienation as a diagnosis, but courts take alienating behavior seriously.
California Family Code Section 271: Sanctions for Obstruction in Divorce Proceedings
Family Code 271 lets courts sanction a spouse who frustrates settlement or needlessly drives up litigation costs.
How Are Pensions and Deferred Compensation Divided in a California Divorce?
The part of a pension or deferred compensation plan earned during marriage is community property and divided by a time rule.
What Is the DissoMaster? California's Child and Spousal Support Calculation Tool Explained
DissoMaster was the software California courts and attorneys used to calculate guideline child and spousal support.
What Is a Putative Spouse in California?
A putative spouse married in good faith believing the marriage was valid, only to learn it was void or voidable.
Financial Disclosures in California Divorce: What You Are Required to Provide and Why It Matters
Both spouses must complete and exchange preliminary financial disclosures as a mandatory step in every California divorce.