May 2021
25th May 2021
Debunking Common Misconceptions about Divorce in California
There’s lots of gossip and rumors floating online these days, and divorce is no exception. Many half-truths and misrepresentations about custody, visitation, alimony, and more are often shared across social media, videos, forums, and more. At the Law Offices of James P. White, we’ve heard them all, and to that end, we want to spend some time dispelling some of the more common misconceptions. 15th May 2021
Are Stepparents Entitled to Visitation Rights in CA?
Stepparents often play an important role in a child’s life. As the spouse of their biological parent, stepparents may fulfill an important parental role and they play a hand in raising and providing support for the child. Children and stepparents can form strong bonds and become as attached as any other family members. 10th May 2021
How CA Determines if a Parent is Unfit
When a parent is unable to provide proper care, guidance, support, or ensure the safety of a child, the state of California may determine that the parent is unfit. This can lead to additional actions such as a formal investigation, loss of custody or visitation, and loss of parental rights. 5th May 2021
Defining the Grounds for Divorce in California
People usually get married with the intention of staying together for the rest of their lives. However life doesn’t always play out how we expect and marriages don’t always work out for a variety of reasons. Perhaps financial strain pushed the two apart, maybe one decided to step out of the marriage with infidelity, or sometimes people just realize they aren’t truly as compatible as they thought they were. Does the reason behind the divorce matter? Today, we’re taking a look at how California determines grounds for divorce. In other words, what are the valid reasons someone can get divorced in CA?
Apr 2021
21st Apr 2021
Unmarried California Couples: What Legal Rights Do They Have?
In CA, unmarried couples who live together are defined under the category of cohabitation. There’s no common law marriage in the state, which means that the legal rights of co-habitating couples vary significantly from those of married couples.Today, we want to talk about the legal specifics of how unmarried cohabitating couples operate under family law in CA. Note that this differs from a domestic partnership, where a couple formally applies and are awarded similar benefits to those enjoyed by married couples.
17th Apr 2021
Calling an Expert Witness During Your California Divorce
When people think of having an expert witness called during testimony, their mind gravitates to criminal cases and possibly civil cases such as those that involve personal injury. Few people associate expert witnesses with divorce proceedings, but did you know that their expertise can be just as valuable in the family law courts? 12th Apr 2021
Divorce and Finances: What If You Aren’t the Primary Breadwinner?
The end of a marriage signifies drastic changes to many facets of your life, including your home life, your relationship with many family members, and your finances. For the latter, this is especially harrowing when you relied on the other person to act as the primary breadwinner. 7th Apr 2021
A Review of Visitation Orders in CA
While divorce can bring relief and a sense of turning over a new leaf, things aren’t as streamlined when there are children involved. As the divorce process moves to its conclusion, parents have to determine who the child is going to live with, as well as hammer out a visitation schedule that works for both parents. Mar 2021
24th Mar 2021
Emotional Abuse in a Custody Case
Custody cases in CA often center on one aspect: the well-being and safety of the child. This means that the family law courts will always make decisions that protect or preserve the well-being, happiness, and basic needs of the child. This means that any signs of emotional abuse can and often will impact the outcome of a family law case. While the courts won’t take any claims at face value, this will spur an investigation and deeper prodding into the issue.
15th Mar 2021
Should I Represent Myself During My CA Divorce? Risks to Consider
These days DIY is all the rage. With so much information at our fingertips it can be tempting to try and strike out on your own, whether you’re trying to remodel the home, are looking to be a better cook at home, have old electronics to repair, and more. So why not divorce as well?Family law in California is one area that does not lend itself to a DIY approach. For today’s blog post, we want to talk about the risks that come with representing yourself in court. The short version is: never proceed with any family law matter in California without first retaining the aid of a qualified divorce / family law attorney.
9th Mar 2021
What Can I Do When My Spouse Says “No” to Divorce?
When someone inevitably broaches the topic of divorce, it can be surprising (but not uncommon) for the other person to flat out refuse or say no. In these cases, many people can be stumped. After all, what can you do when the other person simply shuts down the conversation?It’s true, in CA you don’t need to get a “yes” from the spouse in order to get a divorce. However, having them on the same page as you can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to the more contentious parts of divorce such as custody disputes and division of assets. For today’s post, we’re discussing different approaches and strategies when the soon-to-be-ex says “nope” to divorce.
3rd Mar 2021
What Happens When a Parent Can’t Care for a Child in CA?
In some circumstances, it can be difficult for a parent to provide or care for their children. This can be due to financial reasons, health hardship, and other complications. In these cases, sometimes the best decision is for the parent to let someone else take the reins and care for the child, whether this is on a temporary or permanent basis.Feb 2021
25th Feb 2021
A Review of Factors that Influence Spousal Support in CA
Spousal support, in the most basic terms, is money that one person is ordered to pay their ex after a divorce, usually for a specified or set period of time. This payment is meant to ensure that both parties are able to have their basic needs met after the divorce, and can apply to domestic partnerships as well. 15th Feb 2021
Effective Communication Practices During Your California Divorce
By the time you get to the formal divorce proceedings, communications are likely strained between you and the ex. However, the better you are able to communicate with one another, the better the outcome of your divorce. Of course, being on good speaking terms with the ex is a tall order, but you can still follow good habits that encourage effective communication without having to reconcile for good. 10th Feb 2021
Living with the Ex During Your California Divorce
Living with someone you’re planning to get a divorce from is tough. Even before the pandemic, not everyone had the luxury of being able to move out from a shared home while navigating divorce. Although there is finally an end in sight with vaccinations being rolled out, months of sustained lockdown and widespread economic depression have further limited the mobility of people. 3rd Feb 2021
Signs of a Troubled Relationship: Is Divorce or Separation in the Cards?
There isn’t really a single set of parameters that can predict whether a divorce is impending. Every relationship is unique and people interact differently with one another. In many cases, what may seem like a red flag in one relationship could simply be a minor hiccup in another. Jan 2021
25th Jan 2021
Legitimate Reasons to Stop the Child Support Payments in CA
Child support obligations are pretty clear cut on how long a parent needs to support a child - until the child reaches the age of majority. In California, this is either when the child turns 19 or when he/she graduates from high school. 15th Jan 2021
How Can I Request a Drug Test in my CA Custody Case?
Substance abuse is a reality for many Americans, and recent research has suggested that 1 in 8 children are exposed to or live around a relative who engages in regular substance abuse. Having drug use in the home places kids at a higher risk of anger/impulsivity issues, neglect, and more. 10th Jan 2021
What Makes a California Prenuptial Agreement Invalid?
These days, the use of prenups is on the rise. Many people who are looking to protect their interests see the value in these agreements, and their taboo is quickly going away. While prenups can be a great way to further establish trust via a formal safety net, there are cases where prenups are used as an unfair advantage. In cases where someone signed a prenup and feels he or she is being deprived of assets or otherwise placed in an unfair situation, the person has seven days to raise concerns and potentially seek for it to be invalidated.
2nd Jan 2021
Does Divorce Have an Impact on a Child’s Physical Well-Being?
As family law attorneys, we see firsthand the impact that divorce can have on a family. Divorce can be especially devastating to children, and it can be difficult to predict or expect what type of mental or physical toll this could have on your loved ones. Dec 2020
25th Dec 2020
Keeping Your Divorce Private at Work: Guidelines to Remember
As most of us have learned, rumors and gossip can spread across offices like wildfire. In some cases where someone has high visibility in their career or where details about a pending divorce can impact career outcomes, this can be a problem. Even in cases where these rumors won’t directly affect career aspirations, many people are private by nature and no one enjoys being the subject of the latest office whispers.15th Dec 2020
Don’t Make these Mistakes During Your California Divorce in 2021!
As we move into the new year, we at the Law Offices of James P. White thought it would be interesting to focus on one key thing: the top mistakes we see people make while getting a divorce in CA. We often spend a lot of time talking about what to do when navigating different family law issues, but the “don'ts” can be just as, if not more important in helping guide your case to a favorable resolution. 10th Dec 2020
Grandparents and Visitation: How They Can Petition For their Rights in CA
The discussions on visitation rights usually center on parents, but other relatives such as grandparents can also petition for these rights in California. The family law courts have mechanisms in place to help ensure grandparents are able to spend time and interact with their grandchildren, even if both parents are able to provide and care for the children. 5th Dec 2020
Military Divorces in CA – How Does it Work?
For those who serve in the military, the actual process of how to file for divorce can be complicated. There’s several hurdles to account for, including where exactly the divorce should be initiated from. If a servicemember is stationed in California, can he or she file for divorce in CA?