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What the Tax Law Means to California Divorces Merry Christmas or Bah Humbug. Happy Chanukah or oy vey. These may be just some of the reactions to the new tax bill officially passed by the Congress this morning. With respect to family law, the thing that everyone’s been talking about is spousal support. Under existing…
Earlier this month, I wrote about how Family Code section 3064 makes it difficult for courts to address concerns about holiday visitation because the section at issue deals with needing an emergency to make an ex parte order for custody or visitation, and holidays are not emergencies — though understandably important to both parents and…
Today is the first of November. You probably knew that because last night was Halloween. The first day of the month is important for many reasons, like paying bills. But in California family law cases, the first is particularly important when it comes to changing child support and spousal support orders. For child support, the…
In order to reduce spousal support after a judgment, you must show the court that there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the last order was made regarding spousal support. It this showing is not made, the request will probably be denied. In fact, it must be denied. On the other hand, even…
Is your separate property responsible for your spouse’s debts? That was a question answered yesterday by the California Court of Appeal involving two attorneys who ended up getting divorced. The wife was an immigration attorney who leased computer equipment. She defaulted on her payment and the computer company got a judgment against her of about…
What does a “bonus” mean? The answer to that question ended up costing a woman nearly $500,000.00 in spousal support. This issue arises from the case of Marriage of Minkin (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 939, a case decided by Division Three of the California Court of Appeal’s Fourth Appellate District. In 2004, Wife (“Patricia”) and Husband…
In a published decision, the California Court of Appeal has reversed a trial judge for ordering a vocational exam when there was no motion or RFO for support pending. Apparently, the court found that there was a lack of “good cause” pursuant to the code provision that allows for vocational exams. The case is IRMO…
“She started it”! That’s something we might hear one sibling say about another one, but it’s also the argument that appears to have worked for a man in a California divorce case. In the case of Marriage of G., the wife (“Valerie”) filed for divorce in San Diego and at the same time requested a…
Last night, I was watching a television drama. Indirectly, the show made reference to one or more characters having to have visitation with their children on a supervised basis. That means a third party, usually a professional, shadows the parent and child to make sure the child is safe during the visitation and that the…
If there’s one thing we know for sure about spousal support, also known as alimony, it’s that it ends with the death of either party. That’s why Family Code section 4360 exists. It provides that a court making a spousal support order “may include an amount sufficient to purchase an annuity for the supported spouse…
