Los Angeles Family Law Specialists
Steve Fernandez and Mark Karney are Certified Family Law Specialists* with over 50 years of combined experience.
Family Law Blog Posts
Read the latest blog posts from legal professionals regarding divorce, child custody and property division.
When Does Child Support End in California?
Both parents are expected to support their children financially and provide for their children’s basic needs. When parents divorce, separate for any reason, or have a child outside of marriage, the court may order one parent to pay the other child support payments....
How to Obtain a Divorce Decree in California
There are many situations in which you may need a copy of your divorce decree. Some are as simple as providing proof of divorce, while others are more complicated and involve taking an ex-spouse back to court for violation of the terms of your divorce decree....
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in California?
A divorce in California can cost as little as the $435 filing fee or hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, the average cost of a California divorce is around $17,500. This is slightly higher than the national average of about $15,000. The cost of a divorce in...
How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in California?
There is no fast answer to how long a divorce will take in California. The most straightforward answer is it depends. No two California divorces are the same, even those divorces that are agreed upon. Divorces vary in complexity. Divorces with complicated issues like...
Unborn Child Custody Rights
In California, there is a presumption that the husband of a biological mother is the father of an unborn child. If the unborn child's father is not the mother’s husband, he should take immediate steps to establish paternity to ensure that his legal rights are...
How to Write a Declaration for Family Court in California
A declaration is a written statement, or in court, written testimony, made under penalty of perjury. It is the same as providing testimony on the witness stand. There are some circumstances where the family court may decide a case partially or entirely upon written...
Emergency Child Custody Orders in California
A California emergency child custody order is an ex parte order. This means it is issued in the absence of the other parent. This is because it is an emergency hearing and order based on evidence that a child is at immediate risk of danger or abduction. Emergency...
Who is Considered an Unfit Parent in California?
In California, an unfit parent is a parent who, through their conduct, fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support to their children. This can include not only a parent’s actions but also a home environment where abuse, neglect, or substance abuse is present....
California Divorce Waiting Period
Every California divorce and dissolution of a domestic partnership is unique and follows its own timeline. However, California divorce law has a mandatory waiting period of six months for a divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership that pertains to all...
Who Needs a Prenup?
A prenuptial agreement or premarital agreement is a contract couples enter into before marriage that sets forth each party’s property and debts prior to marriage and specifies what each party’s property rights will be in the event of divorce, separation, or death....
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1 Certified Family Law Specialists
2 Over 50+ years of combined experience
3 Experienced with complex divorce and child custody cases