Are Personal Injury Settlements Community or Separate Property in California?
Long before you decided to get a divorce, you were involved in a car accident. Another driver was to blame, so you filed a personal injury lawsuit for damages. After months of negotiations, you agreed to avoid court and settle the matter privately. You accepted a personal injury settlement for $50,000. Fast forward to today, and you’re in the middle of a contested divorce. You and your spouse can’t agree on…
Read MoreCan I Change My Child’s Last Name After a Divorce?
When couples get married, one spouse typically takes the last name of the other. While this trend has been becoming less and less popular in recent years, it is still a common practice. When that married couple has a child, the child assumes the couple’s last name. Now the couple is finding that their marriage isn’t working. They decide to get a divorce. The mother decides that she no longer…
Read MoreWhat to Do If You’ve Been Emotionally Abused During Your Divorce
After losing a spouse or child, nothing is more stressful than getting a divorce. If your spouse thinks that you’re to blame, they may go out of their way to make your life as difficult as possible. Sometimes this will simply involve refusing to agree or compromise about the terms of your divorce. Other times, your spouse may resort to behaviors that cause you to suffer extraordinary emotional distress. Their…
Read MoreWhat’s the Difference Between Sole and Shared Custody?
One of the biggest challenges of getting divorced is figuring out who will get custody of the kids, and when. One of the first things that ha to be determined is whether one parent will have sole custody of the children, or if custody will be shared between parents. What’s the difference between sole and shared custody? What factors might influence a child custody arrangement and the type of custody…
Read MoreMy Wife and Kids Actress Claims Domestic Violence Led to Divorce
Tisha Campbell, best known for her role on My Wife and Kids, filed for divorce from her husband in 2018. Nearly one year later, she has disclosed the reason for the divorce. Campbell claims that estranged husband, actor Duane Martin, has physically, emotionally, and financially abused her since they got married in 1996. Earlier this month, Campbell filed a police report and requested a restraining order for her safety. Domestic…
Read MoreIs My Spouse Entitled to My Inheritance When We Get Divorced?
One of the most trying aspects of divorce often involves figuring out how to divide and allocate marital assets. Before you can begin to discuss how assets are divided, you have to identify which assets must be allocated. In California, property is classified as either community property or separate property. Community property must be shared equally, while separate property is retained entirely by each spouse. What happens when you receive…
Read MoreExtreme Wealth Could Complicate Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos’ Divorce
The world’s richest man is getting divorced. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, recently announced that he and his wife MacKenzie were calling it quits after 25 years of marriage. The couple’s extreme wealth will certainly complicate the divorce. Community Property in a High Net Worth Divorce Since Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos reside in Washington, that’s where their divorce will unfold. Like California, Washington is a community property state. Unless…
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