Is it a Good Idea to File for Divorce During the COVID-19 Health Crisis?
Is it a Good Idea to File for Divorce During the COVID-19 Health Crisis? No one expected the coronavirus pandemic to drag on as long as it has and now people who were planning
Our legal team at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles has experience representing clients in a wide variety of divorce and family law cases and can provide you with honest and upfront legal advice about any number of issues related to your divorce, including child custody, child support and alimony, to name a few. Our attorneys understand that a divorce can be difficult and painful for parents and their children alike and we will work tirelessly to help your family reach a solution that best suits your needs and your legal rights under California law.
Is it a Good Idea to File for Divorce During the COVID-19 Health Crisis? No one expected the coronavirus pandemic to drag on as long as it has and now people who were planning to get a divorce prior to COVID-19 find themselves faced with a difficult decision: Do they file for divorce...
No one expected the coronavirus pandemic to drag on as long as it has and now people who were planning to get a divorce prior to COVID-19 find themselves faced with a difficult decision: Do they file for divorce now or wait out the current health crisis? If you have already discussed getting a divorce with your spouse or if you and your spouse have physically separated, it may be a good idea to consult a divorce lawyer to discuss your options. Even if you managed to file for divorce before the pandemic hit, your case may have been delayed due to COVID-19 lockdowns and the strict safety measures put in place to slow the spread of the virus. If you, like many people, were waiting until the health crisis passed to pursue a divorce proceeding, you may be wondering whether now is the right time to finally move forward with your divorce.
Below we have compiled some helpful tips and information about filing for divorce during the COVID-19 health crisis, in hopes that we can help those of you considering divorce or separation find your way through this challenging time. For more information about COVID-19 and divorce, please visit our website or call our knowledgeable divorce lawyers directly at (213) 550-4600. We have years of experience representing clients in all matters related to divorce, property division, child custody, spousal support and more, and we can help you make the right decisions as you navigate your divorce during COVID-19.
Think About Timing
As with any legal matter, it is important that the timing is right when you decide to file for divorce. If you haven’t yet had the chance to speak to your spouse about separating or getting divorced, you may be unsure whether now is the right time. The coronavirus pandemic changed a lot of things for a lot of people and you may be worried about turning your family life upside-down while the health crisis remains a very real threat. When it comes down to it, the decision to file for divorce is a deeply personal one and for many people, it is a difficult one, too. As long as your relationship isn’t putting or your children in danger, there is nothing wrong with waiting for a time that feels right to broach the subject. You may find that once the COVID-19 risk has passed, you and your spouse are better able to focus on other matters. For some couples, the pandemic and the resulting quarantine may have actually given them a much-needed opportunity to work on their relationship and reconcile their issues without resorting to divorce.
If you have done your research, you already know that an attorney is not required to file for divorce in Los Angeles. That being said, it is always a good idea to consult an experienced divorce and family law attorney who can ensure that you understand your legal rights and inform you of any issues you could face in your divorce. No two divorce cases are the same and a competent divorce lawyer can give you reliable legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. Hiring an attorney is especially important when there are other family law matters arising from the divorce proceeding that you will need to address, such as child custody and support, alimony, relocation, or a restraining order.
If you are planning to talk to your spouse about getting a divorce, it may help to discuss all of these things with an attorney first, so you can get an idea of how you want to approach each matter and how your spouse may respond. For instance, if you have children together, you and your spouse will have to figure out a way to co-parent. If you are not able to agree on a co-parenting plan, you may have to appear before the court in a child custody hearing. If you intend to move out of the marital home, you may need to start looking for a new place to live right away, especially since COVID-19 has the potential to throw a wrench into even the best-laid plans.
As we mentioned earlier, your safety and the safety of your children should be a major factor in your decision about whether or not to file for divorce during COVID-19. One unforeseen consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown measures implemented as part of a nationwide effort to reduce transmission was a spike in domestic violence. Abuse victims suddenly found themselves confined to their homes with their abusers, with limited access to help and support. If you are the victim of domestic violence and you are seeking a divorce to put a stop to the abuse, there is no time to waste. It is not uncommon for intimate partner violence or family violence to increase in frequency and/or severity when the abuse victim attempts to end the relationship, so your first priority should be to get yourself and your children to a safe place. Once you have done so, contact our legal team at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for advice on how to proceed with your divorce.
Things are different now than they were before the coronavirus outbreak brought the world to a crashing halt last year, and it may be a long time before they go back to normal, if they ever do. Workers all over the country lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19, businesses were forced to shut down and many never reopened, the stock market crashed, millions of people fell ill and hundreds of thousands died. As a result of this unprecedented public health crisis and the countless obstacles arising from it, many people suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves dealing with unforeseen physical, emotional, and financial losses.
For a lucky handful of people, COVID-19 may have had little, if any, impact on their plans for divorce. For others, the way they imagined their divorce might look at the beginning of 2020 may no longer be a reasonable expectation. Spouses who lost their jobs during the pandemic, for instance, may no longer be bringing home the same income, or they may have been forced to retire earlier than expected due to a disability caused by the coronavirus. Either of these scenarios could have an impact on their ability to meet the child support or spousal support obligations you would have otherwise anticipated receiving. Child custody arrangements may also have to be amended post-COVID, as many schools still have virtual learning or hybrid curriculums in place.
Even house-hunting post-divorce poses more of a challenge now than it did in the past, as many property owners and real estate and rental agencies are limiting their in-person showings during COVID-19. Depending on where you live, you might find that it takes several weeks before you are able to see the inside of a prospective home. You might also find that home prices have increased or that the market is significantly more competitive now than it was pre-COVID. That is not to say that you should put off your divorce because it may be hard to find a new place to live, but you should be prepared to consider every possible impact the pandemic may have on your divorce.
The social distancing requirements brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak had an immediate and dramatic impact on courts nationwide, including those handling matters related to divorce and family law. Many courts were forced to close to adhere to the mandated COVID-19 restrictions and those that stayed open prioritized emergency matters, such as criminal cases and those involving domestic violence and abuse. Divorce cases that had already been scheduled with the court were canceled or rescheduled to a later date and new divorce filings were put off temporarily. This created a backlog of divorce cases courts are still struggling to clear and prolonged the divorce process altogether. Now that courts have reopened and are hearing non-emergency cases again, the divorce process may still look a little different than you expected. In many states, divorces can now be “e-filed,” and judges are conducting uncontested hearings remotely via video conferencing rather than in-person in the courtroom.
The current health crisis has caused many of us to reevaluate our present situation and make a decision about how we want to move forward. For some people, this has led to the decision to file for divorce. If you are considering filing for divorce in Los Angeles, contact our legal team at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles right away to discuss your legal options. We are here to make the divorce process as easy on you as humanly possible, especially during COVID-19, when there are plenty of other things to be uncertain about. With our reputable divorce lawyers on your side, you can feel confident that you understand each and every aspect of the divorce process and get your divorce filed and finalized as quickly as possible.
What Happens to Your Transition Payment During Divorce? Given the current state of the global economy and the ongoing impact of the coronavirus health crisis, unemployment is an unfortunate reality that people all over the world have been forced to deal with. Sadly, many of those people already experiencing unexpected job loss have...
Given the current state of the global economy and the ongoing impact of the coronavirus health crisis, unemployment is an unfortunate reality that people all over the world have been forced to deal with. Sadly, many of those people already experiencing unexpected job loss have also been confronted with another exceptionally difficult situation: divorce. Being laid off and facing the uncertainty and insecurity that comes with involuntary unemployment is never easy, but when paired with a divorce, an already tricky situation can become even more complicated and confusing. For one, in situations where dismissal and divorce coincide, if the terminated spouse receives a transition payment from his or her previous employer, the other spouse will want to know whether the law considers the transitional payment a community asset and, if so, how the payment will be divided in divorce. If you have received a transition payment upon being dismissed from your job and you are considering getting a divorce, you will want to know how to protect your assets. Contact our experienced divorce attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles today for qualified legal help.
A transition payment, known as transitievergoeding in Dutch ( https://www.transitionpay.nl ), is a type of severance pay employers in the Netherlands are required to pay to employees whose employment contracts are terminated or not renewed on their employer’s initiative. The purpose of the payment is to help employees who suddenly find themselves involuntarily unemployed make up for lost income during the period of transition between jobs, and it has been a requirement in the Netherlands since 2015, when the Dutch Work and Security Act (Wet Werk en Zekerheid) was introduced. In January 2020, however, the transition payment requirement in the Netherlands was transformed by the Labor Market in Balance Act, or Wet arbeidsmarkt in balans (WAB).
The principle aim of the WAB was to bring the labor market into balance and reduce the gap in legal protections and employment rights between Dutch employees with fixed-term (temporary) contracts and those with indefinite-term (permanent) contracts. To do so, the law implemented a number of changes, one of the most notable being an employee’s right to receive a transition payment from the first day of employment. Whereas under the previous Work and Security Act, employees were only eligible for transition pay after being employed for a minimum of two years, under the Labor Market in Balance Act, temporary and permanent employees in the Netherlands are now entitled to transition pay upon dismissal from employment or non-renewal of their employment contract, regardless of the duration of the contract. That means, if your indefinite-term employment contract is terminated on your employer’s initiative or if your fixed-term contract is not renewed, you may be entitled to a severance payment in the amount of one-third of your gross monthly salary for each year you worked, beginning from your first day of employment.
Transition pay is an important unemployment benefit for employees who have been involuntarily dismissed, to provide a source of temporary income until they can find a new job, during which time they may require additional training or education. However, if you are entitled to transition pay after being dismissed from your job and you are going through a divorce, you may be wondering what impact your divorce will have on your transition payment. The answer could be “a big impact,” but it really depends on your situation, most importantly whether the payment is considered separate or community property. As you may already know, community property and separate property is treated differently during the divorce process under California law. In most cases, community property, or property that you and your spouse owned together during your marriage, will be equally divided during your California divorce, while separate property, or property you owned before the marriage or inherited separately during the marriage, is not subject to division in divorce. But what about something like a severance package?
As an unemployment benefit, the key to finding out whether a transition payment is characterized as community or separate property lies in determining whether the right to the payment accrued during the marriage or after the parties were separated. If you are dismissed from employment before you separate from your spouse and you receive transition pay as a result of the dismissal, the payment is community property and will be divided between you and your spouse during your divorce, no matter how long before the separation the severance payment is received. However, if you are dismissed after you separate from your spouse and you receive transition pay from your employer, the payment will most likely be considered separate property, with some exceptions. The same goes for you if your spouse was dismissed and received transition pay before or after your separation.
One important exception here has to do with the specific timing of the transition payment. Say, for example, that you entered into an employment contract during your marriage and the contract required your employer to pay a severance payment upfront in case of dismissal. In this specific instance, the payment would be considered divisible community property, even if your employment contract is terminated after you separate from your spouse.
If you are considering getting a divorce in Los Angeles, or if you have already begun the divorce process, you will want to know as much as possible about what could happen to your transition payment upon divorce. The issue of separate property versus community property is often the subject of significant debate in divorce proceedings and figuring out exactly what it is you are entitled to during the divorce process is not always straightforward, especially when job loss and transition pay are factored into the equation. That is why we always recommend consulting a knowledgeable Los Angeles divorce attorney as early as possible in the divorce process, especially if you are wondering how your transition payment or your spouse’s transition payment will be treated in divorce. Contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles today to discuss your case with a reputable divorce attorney who has experience handling divorces involving complicated community and separate property.
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Divorce is the legal process by which a couple terminates their marriage permanently. Couples in Los Angeles can file for divorce if one of the spouses has lived in California for six months and the spouse filing the divorce has lived in the county where he or she plans to file for a minimum of three months.
Family law is a broad area of the law that covers a variety of complex legal issues involving domestic relationships and family matters. Divorce, child custody, spousal support, paternity and parental relocation are all matters that fall under the umbrella of family law in Los Angeles, California.
When a couple gets divorced, they must make arrangements for the custody of their children, including which parent the children will live with, which parent(s) have the right to make decisions about the children’s health and welfare, and what visitation rights the other parent will have.
Once child custody has been established, divorced spouses in Los Angeles must reach an agreement about, or let the court decide, how much child support the noncustodial parent will be required to pay the custodial parent, for the financial benefit of the children affected by the divorce.
High net worth divorces in Los Angeles can be exceptionally complicated, especially if one spouse entered into the marriage with significant assets or both spouses own substantial property that must be divided fairly in divorce. High net worth divorces require the skill and knowledge of an experienced divorce attorney.
Although proof of misconduct has no bearing on the court’s decision to grant a divorce in Los Angeles, California, if a spouse who suffered abuse at the hands of the other spouse can provide evidence of the domestic violence, the misconduct could have an affect on other decisions, including child support and spousal support.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are a common practice among high net worth individuals who plan to marry or are already married. These contracts include provisions for the division of marital property in the event of a death or divorce, among other important issues, and are designed to protect the financial future of each spouse.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are a common practice among high net worth individuals who plan to marry or are already married. These contracts include provisions for the division of marital property in the event of a death or divorce, among other important issues, and are designed to protect the financial future of each spouse.
Paternity is an important issue in divorce cases involving child support and child custody and visitation disputes. Once a child’s paternity is established, the father can make a claim for custody of the child. As the noncustodial parent, the father will also be legally obligated to provide for the child by paying child support.
Domestic violence victims seeking divorce may request a restraining order against their abusive spouse to keep them out of their home or away from their children. A restraining order can also have an impact on the outcome of the couple’s divorce proceedings, especially if child custody or spousal support are at issue in Los Angeles, CA.
In Los Angeles, California, all assets acquired by a couple during marriage belong to the spouses equally and must be divided 50-50 in divorce. This matter becomes more complicated in divorces involving high net worth couples and the division of complex property, such as investment portfolios, stock options and real estate.
When one divorced parent decides to move away with their children, it can violate an existing custody or visitation agreement. Whether you are the parent planning to move or the parent wondering what a relocation will mean for your child custody and visitation rights, it helps to have a family law attorney on your side.
Divorce and Family Law News in Los Angeles, CA
Get the latest Divorce and Family Law news in Los Angeles, CA. Our topics range from celebrity divorce news and general information on family law related matters.
Is it a Good Idea to File for Divorce During the COVID-19 Health Crisis? No one expected the coronavirus pandemic to drag on as long as it has and now people who were planning
What Happens to Your Transition Payment During Divorce? Given the current state of the global economy and the ongoing impact of the coronavirus health crisis, unemployment is an unfortunate reality that people all over
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When there are a lot of assets, such as in high net worth marriages, that need to be decided on in divorce, it’s important to remember the tax repercussions that can follow those decisions. That couldn't be truer than this tax season. As you prepare to pay taxes for 2018, you'll want to...
When there are a lot of assets, such as in high net worth marriages, that need to be decided on in divorce, it’s important to remember the tax repercussions that can follow those decisions. That couldn’t be truer than this tax season. As you prepare to pay taxes for 2018, you’ll want to make sure you have a complete understanding of how new laws will effect your tax filing.
When retirement accounts, large pieces of property, and alimony are at stake, divorce gets tricky. Making these decisions trickier for both lawyers and feuding couples, it’s the fact that big changes are in place this tax season.
A number of tax law changes were implemented at the end of 2017 but a big disruption won’t happen until Jan. 1, 2019. The biggest direct impact is on alimony. Alimony will no longer be a tax deduction for the person paying it, and it will no longer have to be claimed as income by the person receiving it.
At the beginning of 2018 it was predicted that this would cause a big rush on divorces, due to the fact that people would try to get the divorce in before the year changed. Turns out, that big rush hasn’t quite happened.
According to divorce attorney Malcolm Taub, of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron in New York, “It is a drastic change, but it seems like people are living with it.”
While the determination of the actual dollar value of alimony is relatively easy, the biggest sticking point is where the money for the settlement is coming from, and how well-prepared each side is for the long-term.
When couples over 50 decide to divorce settlements can become increasingly complicated due to the fact that there are less “working years” left for either person.
For couples over 50, a lot of the traditional gender roles still exist – the husband is the breadwinner and the wife stayed at home to raise the children. While this is changing with the younger generations, this still applies to many older couples that are divorcing now.
Among high-net-worth clients, the two biggest assets are usually the house and the retirement accounts.
While a house is an obvious sentimental attachment, there are other big financial gains to be had by selling that family home. It’s not uncommon for divorce attorneys to recommend that the spouse who gets awarded the house sells it and puts the proceeds into an investment account for retirement.
Another often employed strategy is to “award” the house to one spouse while the other spouse gets what seems like an equivalent amount in an investment or retirement account. Taxes are then figured into the equation.
To consider are capital gains, IRAs and 401 (k) assets versus Roth assets, as well as the valuation of any private businesses. Even if you are not selling a business in the divorce, you will still need to have a valuation of it.
You’ll want to have proper legal order for any asset distributions, because the tax penalties could hit you hard on the flip side.
Spouses receiving alimony used to be able to claim it as earned income. Under the new law, they are no longer able to claim it, and thus cannot contribute to accounts like IRAs and Roths. So if they have no other earned income, they have no way to grow their tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
This can be especially hard-hitting when the divorce settlement is not enough to get by on. Even harder hit, are those who are not old enough and thus do not yet qualify for Medicare and Social Security.
As if divorce isn’t hard enough emotionally, then you get hit with the financial side of divorce. Establishing your own credit, setting up your own independent accounts, closing joint accounts, etc… can be grueling, but unfortunately a very necessary part of starting your single life.
Before you’re able to move forward from your ex, you’ll need to take some steps to create your own financial footing. Below we outline some steps you’ll want to take.
Divorce means a rebalancing of your budget, and it really is “your” budget and yours alone. While some expenses may disappear, others will become your sole responsibility. If you are not receiving alimony, you will no longer have the benefit of a secondary income to ease the debt.
Divorce and spousal support cases in Los Angeles can be complicated, especially when emotions are running high and both parties are feeling exposed and financially vulnerable. Our attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles often encourage divorced or divorcing couples to attempt to reach a workable and amicable alimony payment agreement on their own outside of court, as negotiation and settlement are almost always preferable to going to trial. However, we want what’s best for you and your family, and we will stand by your side every step of the way, whether you end up going to court or not. One thing to keep in mind if your case does go to trial is that the judge has a great deal of discretion when deciding on spousal support payments. This is why it is so important to have a thorough understanding of the factors the judge will consider when deciding how much alimony you will receive or pay. An experienced family law attorney can help you understand the complexities of your spousal support agreement, help you calculate alimony payments and prepare the forms required by the court, among other things.
It’s also a good idea to look at your credit reports to see what your personal financial standing looks like. Creditors will use these reports to asses whether or not to give you a loan. Review these reports very carefully to ensure that there are no errors. This report will be able to give you an idea of what to expect as you try to establish new credit on your own.
Divorce doesn’t relieve you of any joint debts you and your ex incurred during the course of the marriage. Any joint accounts that you have with your spouse will still have your name on them, and thus will impact your credit score. That means a creditor can come after you if your spouse falls behind on a payment – even if you have a verbal agreement with your spouse.
Close all joint accounts as soon as possible and have everything that you are responsible for re-financed under your name. For joint credit cards, you should be able to transfer the balance to a new card so that you can close the joint card that the two of you shared.
Until all of your joint accounts have been closed, it’s crucial that you continue to make at least the minimum payment on all of those bills each month. You do not want any lapses of payment in your credit report. If your ex agrees to make the payments, follow up to ensure they did. A single late payment can drop your credit score by anywhere from 60 to 80 points, according to FICO data, assuming an initial credit score of 680. Though the effect on your credit will diminish over time as your more recent payment history takes precedence, that late payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.
If you already had an established credit history before you got married, or if you were a joint account holder on your spouse’s accounts, you probably won’t have any trouble obtaining credit in your own name, provided your previous credit history was good. If this is not the case, you might need a few months to establish yourself as a responsible payer in the eyes of creditors.
You can do this by opening a credit card and using it responsibly.
You can also sign up for a secured credit card. These require a security deposit, but your on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus every month, so consistently paying on time will raise your credit score as if you were using an ordinary card.
Side Note: Changing Your Name
If you’re thinking about changing your name back, do this before you open any new credit accounts so that they will be listed in your new legal name. Additionally, you should get in contact with the institutions where you have existing financial accounts and notify them of the name change so they can update their records.
Our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorneys can assist with every aspect of the divorce process and will aggressively represent your case before a judge if it comes to that. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, we still stand by your side and ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the process.
For more information about California divorce law and the divorce process, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for a risk-free initial consultation. Our main goal as divorce attorneys is to help you evaluate your options under California law and make informed decisions that protect your interests and legal rights. Don’t wait to get help, call our Los Angeles legal team today at (213) 550-4600.
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While divorce is often times a mutual decision, there are incidents where both parties do not agree to separate. When parties are not in agreement when it comes to ending their divorce, it can make discussions regarding property division, custody, and support decisions almost impossible. When the divorce is being contested, legal separation...
While divorce is often times a mutual decision, there are incidents where both parties do not agree to separate. When parties are not in agreement when it comes to ending their divorce, it can make discussions regarding property division, custody, and support decisions almost impossible. When the divorce is being contested, legal separation might be an option to consider.
A couple does not always need to go right to divorce. Legal separation is an option for couples who are determining if they actually want to end their divorce.
California is a no-fault state, and both a legal separation and a divorce require the same declaration of “grounds for divorce.” The two options for “grounds” are irreconcilable differences or the incurable insanity of your spouse.
You must have lived in the state for six months before you file for divorce, but there is no such residency requirement for a legal separation. After filing for divorce, you must wait an additional six months before your divorce can be final, but there is no waiting period for a legal separation. Once you file for legal separation, it is in place.
As part of a legal separation, you’ll want to draft an agreement. This can be beneficial should you decide to go through with a divorce.
A decree of legal separation addresses the same things a divorce decree does. This includes any alimony or child support and any issues of custody, visitation and property distribution. The terms of each are binding.
To note: a legal separation does not end your marriage. You will not be able to remarry.
Often times, drafting an agreement gives couples the opportunity to sit down and talk about all the issues they might be facing. A legal separation also allows for spouses to stay on the same health insurance. This can be very helpful for spouses that
Legal separation can be a great option for couples who no longer want to be married but, for personal reasons, divorce is not an option. In California, however, there may be one other advantage – you can hasten the divorce process by filing for a legal separation first.
If you decide to divorce after your separation, California law allows you to convert your legal separation to a divorce. This can be done after your separation is final or at any point during the legal process. Either spouse is able to file a request for the conversion. This will require additional paperwork.
Another way to move your divorce along without establishing residency for 6 months (which is required in California), you can file for legal separation immediately. The six-month waiting period for a final divorce decree begins as you work through the legal separation procedure. When it has expired, you are able to file to convert your matter to a divorce.
Even if you feel like your marriage can be saved, and you do not want to pursue divorce, it’s advised that you work with a family law attorney. You’ll want to take actions to protect your assets, credit, home, children, and future right to support settlements. If your spouse files, a temporary hearing can be held in as little as a few days.
Do not feel like calling an attorney is “giving up” on your marriage. At Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles, our lawyers are well-versed in a variety of family law-related matters and we can help you understand the legal, emotional and financial implications of your divorce and the various issues that go along with it. Our legal team strives to handle each and every case as if it was our own and we can help you navigate the complexities of the California legal system so you can achieve the maximum recovery in your Los Angeles divorce or family law case. We will do everything in our power to make you feel comfortable and informed as you navigate the divorce waters.
Divorce has many aspects, all of which need to be ironed out. This type of litigation falls under the title of family law. Family law covers the following aspects of divorce:
Child Custody
Child custody is the legal and practical relationship between a parent and a child in the parent’s care, involving the duty to care for and support the child.
One of the most important considerations during divorce should be establishing parental custody and visitation rights. There are two main types of child custody under California law: legal and physical custody.
Legal custody (California Family Code § 3003) can be joint, in which both parents share the right and responsibility to make important decisions about their children’s health, welfare and education, or sole, in which one parent is granted the exclusive responsibility for making these decisions, though the other parent may still have visiting rights. It is the presumption of the court in most divorce proceedings that it is in the best interest of the child to have continuing contact with both parents. However, if the parents are unable to agree on a parenting plan, it is up to the court to decide how they will share time with their children. Parents with legal custody are responsible for making the major decisions or choices about their children’s schooling or child care, residence, religious activities, mental health needs, medical needs, travel and extracurricular activities.
Physical custody (California Family Code § 3004) can also be joint, which means the children live with both parents, or sole, which means the children live with one parent for most of the time and may schedule regular visits with the other parent. California law favors joint legal and physical custody when both parents can agree to it. If they don’t agree, the court will establish a parenting plan that is in the children’s best interests.
Determining child custody is a sensitive, stressful matter that can easily become a point of contention among couples who are unable to agree on a shared plan for co-parenting their children. Our family law attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles have experience guiding divorce clients through productive child custody negotiations and can help you and the other parent create a workable, amicable custody agreement that meets the needs of the two of you and your children as well.
Alimony / Spousal Support
Alimony, also known as spousal support, is an individual’s legal obligation to provide financial support to a former spouse after divorce. In most cases of divorce in Los Angeles, one spouse earns more than the other, and during the marriage, the couple shared household income, which means the spouse who earns less suffers a far greater loss when the marriage ends.
Spousal support, more commonly known as alimony, payments are ongoing, periodic payments made from one spouse to another under a legal separation or divorce order issued by the court. Spousal support is intended to help an economically disadvantaged (or lower-earning) spouse continue to enjoy a similar standard of living after he or she is divorced. In most cases in Los Angeles, the spouse who earns a higher income is ordered by the court to pay alimony to the other spouse, though whether you are entitled to alimony in California divorce proceedings depends on a number of factors, including: your earning capacity, the length of your marriage and any documented history of domestic violence between you and your spouse. There are two types of spousal support in California:
To file for spousal support in Los Angeles, the party requesting the payment must ask the judge to make a spousal support order, and this order must be issued as part of either a divorce or legal separation, or as part of a domestic violence restraining order. You can either ask that the alimony be paid while the case is going on (temporary spousal support) or once the divorce or legal separation becomes final, as part of the court judgment (permanent spousal support). Under California law, spousal support payments are automatically terminated upon the death or remarriage of the supported party. In some cases, the spousal support agreements can be changed, if the spouse making the payments suffers a significant financial hardship, or if the spouse receiving the payments suddenly requires less support.
Child Support
Child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial support of a child following the end of a marriage. The regulation of child support is an important issue among divorced or divorcing parents in Los Angeles, and the amount of child support owed by one parent to the other depends on a number of factors, including:
Child custody, support and visitation arrangements are often the most hotly contested issues in divorce litigation and settlements in Los Angeles. With the cost of living in Los Angeles being so high, establishing the appropriate payment of child support from one parent to the other is one of the most important steps divorced or divorcing parents will have to take.
Property Division
The division of community property, or property acquired by the couple during their marriage, such as high assets, professional licenses, business ownership and other complex financial matters can be one of the most contentious issues to iron out during a divorce. In the state of California, complex property division involves the distribution of high-value marital assets, including retirement accounts, ownership rights to a business, professional practices and investment portfolios, among others, which can be a hotly contested issue for some couples.
California is a community property state, which means all property and assets (and debts) acquired by the couple during marriage is legally considered community property owned by both spouses equally and should therefore be divided equally in divorce. Some of the high-value assets at risk in high net worth divorces include:
Los Angeles divorces involving complex property division due to significant assets, professional licenses, business ownership and other complicated financial matters are often highly contentious and high profile, but they don’t have to end in a bitter legal battle.
Legal matters that fall under the umbrella of family law tend to be contentious and therefore require a great deal of experience, compassion, communication and attention to detail. Far too often, family law cases that could have been settled amicably end up bitter court battles because the parties involved attempted to handle the matter on their own without reputable legal help, or they hired an attorney with no experience in family law. At Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles, we understand how difficult and frustrating the legal process can be, especially when dealing with sensitive family law issues, and our attorneys are committed to helping you achieve a favorable outcome, whether it is through private negotiation, third-party mediation or at trial. For more information about family law cases, the divorce process and spousal or child support in California, or to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable family law attorney, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles today at (213) 550-4600.
Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles
5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (213) 550-4600
Since divorcing last year, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan have not followed a "consistent or formal" co-parenting schedule or custody arrangement. Channing, in prioritizing his relationship with their daughter Everly, has hopes that having an official custody arrangement will help the five-year-old "thrive even more." An Unusual Celebrity Co-Parenting Schedule According to court...
Since divorcing last year, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan have not followed a “consistent or formal” co-parenting schedule or custody arrangement. Channing, in prioritizing his relationship with their daughter Everly, has hopes that having an official custody arrangement will help the five-year-old “thrive even more.”
According to court documents, Channing hopes to have a custody and co-parenting arrangement that is “equal, mutual and self-executing.”
Tatum also requested custody on Mondays and Tuesdays, while Jenna will be responsible for her care on Wednesday and Thursday. The parents will alternate visitation on the weekends and “equally divide and alternate” custody during the holidays.
The only holiday that the parents will try to spend together is Halloween, during which they “shall try to work together to try to spend Halloween together, trick or treating with Everly from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.”
Despite the fact that visitation has seemingly been inconsistent, Channing says, “Since our separation and on the occasions that we have been together, Everly appears very happy and comfortable when she is with [Jenna] and me.”
He adds, “In my opinion and experience, Everly has appeared to adjust to our separation and living in two homes exceptionally well.”
Divorce is hard on all fronts. If you’re going through divorce, have gone through divorce, or are about to file, you need to do things that will allow you to move on. These things very well might feel impossible on most days. Take each day at a time. Give yourself some grace. And take a look at our tips for keeping your head up.
Divorce will change your life in more ways than one. Regardless of how strong you are, divorce is challenging – in ways you never even expected. As you face a range of emotions – from anger to relief, to confusion and humiliation, depression, and fear, you need to remember one thing: you WILL get through this.
Going through a divorce can be one of the most difficult, stressful and emotionally draining experiences in a person’s life, and hiring an attorney early in the process can help avoid the mistakes that inevitably occur when parties seeking divorce represent themselves in court. The legal system can be confusing for anyone without an extensive legal background and family law cases, in particular, can become complicated and messy when not dealt with properly. Our attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles have the experience and resources necessary to handle high-asset divorces in L.A. and the surrounding areas, and the competence to resolve critical disputes, including those that involve marital property division and child custody and co-parenting arrangements. Whether your California divorce case requires aggressive negotiation, mediation or representation at trial, hiring a knowledgeable attorney to represent your case can help ease any concerns you may have about the outcome of your case and may even help resolve your case more quickly.
California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either party in a marriage has the right to file for divorce for no other reason than “irreconcilable differences,” and property settlements in CA divorce cases are not influenced by the behavior of either spouse, although child custody and visitation rights can be. Under California Family Code § 2320, in order for a judge to grant a divorce in California, one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for six months, and in most cases, the individual seeking divorce must file in his or her county of residence, where he or she must have lived for at least three months. Once the divorce papers have been filed, California law dictates that the filing party must wait at least six months from the date the other spouse received the paperwork before the divorce can be finalized.
The steps you need to take to file your divorce will depend on the particulars of your situation and circumstances. A divorce where the parties have been married for a relatively short period of time, have no children, and little property or debts is typically less involved than a divorce where the parties have been married for a long period of time, where there are minor children, or where there is significant property or debt to divide.
The divorce process is also made simpler in cases where both parties want to and agree to divorce. In cases where one party wants a divorce and the other does not, the opposing party might choose to prolong the process as much as possible.
If both parties are able to agree to the terms of the divorce, the process will be smoother as opposed to one where both parties are constantly disagreeing and fighting over the terms.
The first step in the divorce process is filing a petition. Even when both parties agree to divorce, one of them will need to file a petition that states the grounds for the divorce. The grounds for divorce vary depending on the jurisdiction. All jurisdictions allow for some type of no-fault grounds such as “irreconcilable differences”, but only a few states still consider fault grounds for divorce, such as adultery or abandonment. California is a no-fault state so the grounds will be “irreconcilable differences.”
Next, temporary orders will need to be put in place. These orders are for spousal and/or child support and custody. A temporary order is usually granted within a few days and remains in effect until a full court hearing.
The party that files the divorce also needs to file proof of service of process. This is a document that shows a copy of the divorce petition was given to the other party. If you are working with an attorney, he or she will be able to arrange this.
The party who receives service of process then needs to file a response to the petition. The responding party may choose to assert a defense to the grounds. If there is disagreement as to property division, support, custody, or any other issue, this should be set out in the response.
If the parties don’t agree on all the issues such as child custody, co-parenting schedules, or spousal support, they will need to try to negotiate their differences. A court may schedule settlement conferences in an attempt to have the parties resolve their issues. If the parties disagree on child custody and visitation, the court may also choose to order mediation, evaluation of the children and parents by a social worker or other court employee and that a lawyer or guardian ad litem be appointed to represent the children. Other issues that may need to be negotiated are the property division and any spousal support.
Any issues the parties cannot resolve between themselves will be decided at a trial. However, going to trial takes longer, costs more money, and may have less predictable results.
The order of dissolution ends the marriage and spells out how property and debts are to be divided, child custody, support and any other issues. When the parties negotiate their own resolution to all of the issues, they draft the order of dissolution and submit it to the court. If the order of dissolution complies with legal requirements and both parties entered into it knowingly and willingly, then a judge approves it. Otherwise the court will issue an Order of Dissolution at the end of the trial.
Not all divorce cases in California go to court. In some cases, couples can resolve their divorce disputes through negotiation or mediation, during which an attorney can make sure your best interests are being represented. Too often, couples filing for divorce believe they can handle the proceedings on their own and end up making a bigger mess of their situation than they started with. While we do encourage spouses filing for divorce to reach an agreement outside of court and try to avoid divorce litigation altogether, especially when children are involved, our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorneys can assist with every aspect of the divorce process and will aggressively represent your case before a judge if it comes to that. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, we still stand by your side and ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the process.
Divorce proceedings are not always simple and straightforward, especially when children are involved. In many cases, the consequences of a divorce can affect a person for the rest of his or her life, possibly resulting in a significant loss of financial support or reduced child visitation rights. A qualified divorce attorney however, can help you navigate the complex intricacies of family law and can negotiate the best settlement on your behalf. For more information about California divorce law and the divorce process, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for a risk-free initial consultation. Our main goal as divorce attorneys is to help you evaluate your options under California law and make informed decisions that protect your interests and legal rights. Don’t wait to get help, call our Los Angeles legal team today at (213) 550-4600.
Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles
5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (213) 550-4600
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