What To Include in a Prenuptial Agreement

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie shocked the world with news of their divorce enquiring minds seemed to want the inside scoop on one thing in particular – was there a prenup, and, if so, who gets what in the divorce? It seems as though, with the seemingly constant flow of celebrity weddings and subsequent divorces, prenuptial agreements have become a standard precaution. In California, engaged couples are permitted to…

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Understanding Interim Orders In Divorce Cases

Shortly after the respondent receives formal notice of marriage dissolution proceedings through service of process, the judge normally holds a temporary hearing to make interim determinations about child custody, child support, property division, spousal support, and other matters. Needless to say, these are some very important determinations, and since the temporary hearings normally occur about two or three weeks after the petitions are filed, there is no advance information available…

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Getting Things Started: Serving Divorce Papers in California

In just a few short years, social media has radically transformed the way we communicate with one another, so a New York judge may have sparked a national trend when he allowed a divorce petitioner to serve marriage dissolution papers on her estranged spouse via Facebook. 26-year-old Ellanora Baidoo married Victor Sena Blood-Dzraku in a 2009 civil ceremony, but the relationship almost immediately fell apart, supposedly because Mr. Blood-Dzraku refused…

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Modifying Family Law Orders In California

During their adult lifetimes, most people relocate about twelve times. Some people move to get away from family, be closer to friends, or to get a fresh start in life; many more people relocate because of a job change or to be closer to family. Most all these moves occur before age 50, so each relocation often brings challenges in terms of child custody and family support. A few states…

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Agreed Property Divisions In Divorce Cases

With the Los Angeles Dodgers back in the National League Championship Series, the team is in the headlines because of its on-the-field performance. But a little over a year ago, the team was in the headlines because of what happened in divorce court. After the team won the World Series in 1988, a decade of under-achieving teams deflated fan interest, meaning that ballpark attendance and broadcast ratings both fell precipitously….

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Domestic Violence and Protective Orders

Domestic violence is an increasingly common issue here in California. Earlier this month, in California, Tom Sizemore, Darren Collison (an NBA player for the Sacramento Kings), and Campbell City Councilman Jeffrey Cristina, just to name a few, were all arrested for acts of domestic violence. If you are a victim of domestic violence, please be aware that you are not alone. Domestic violence is a problem nationwide and has been…

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Does California Allow Common Law Marriages?

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] When people think of marriage, they think of a ceremony, usually in a church, where the couple formally pronounces their vows in front of their families, friends, and a member of the clergy. At the very least, it involves a trip to the local courthouse to file papers and enter…

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What Is the Difference Between a Domestic Partnership and a Same-Sex Marriage?

Over the years, the struggle for gay and lesbian rights has resulted in three ways in which a same-sex couple can gain legal recognition for their relationship: through a civil union, a domestic partnership or a same-sex marriage. While not all same-sex couples in every state can choose from all these options, California provides same-sex couples with two legally recognized unions they can declare. Same-sex couples in California can now…

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