Feb 2020
25th Feb 2020
About Adult Adoption in California
Adult adoption is a fairly common occurrence in CA. Defined as the process where one adult adopts a younger, unrelated adult, this type of adoption isn’t often at the forefront of family law discussions.18th Feb 2020
Transgender Adoption in California
Making the choice to adopt a child can be an exciting and sometimes stressful process for those who want to become parents. There’s extensive paperwork involved for opposite sex and same sex couples alike and then a potentially long waiting period for an answer. The couple wanting to adopt will also have to go through an intense interviewing process to make sure everything checks out from a legal stance in order to be considered fit for parenting. Given all this red tape, what does this mean for those who identify as transgender and who are also wanting to adopt?10th Feb 2020
Divorce After 50 is On the Rise
Divorce rates appear to be on the decline due to wary millennials waiting longer to settle down and marry, yet divorce rates after the age of 50 have been steadily increasing in the U.S. since the early nineties. Gray divorce (known also as divorce after 50) has been found to be even more devastating for both parties than with other age groups. This isn’t only from a financial angle, but an emotional one as well. Research has shown that the older a couple is, the more difficult it can be to bounce back after experiencing a loss like a divorce. 3rd Feb 2020
The Connection Between Divorce and Mental Health
Marriage can be a roller coaster of good times as well as stressful ones for many couples, even when they are generally happy within their union. When you have a partner that is affected by something like a diagnosed mental illness, the marriage usually takes on an additional layer of stress if the other partner is not equipped to deal with this type of marital discord.Jan 2020
25th Jan 2020
Expecting a Rocky Divoce? Steps to Take In Preparation
We at the Law Offices of James P. White often advocate for alternative dispute resolutions, or any other route that might avoid a hostile and contentious divorce. However, as years of experience have illustrated, a tough or rocky divorce isn’t always avoidable.15th Jan 2020
The Ex Isn’t Paying Child Support, Can I Deny Visitation Rights?
Dealing with child custody and support is never easy: after all, this often involves complex emotions and disputes where neither party is willing to budge. For example, one of the most common types of conflicts involves a parent who refuses to pay his or her court-mandated child support.10th Jan 2020
Legalized Marijuana Usage and Child Custody
In the state of California, recreational marijuana was legalized in 2018 for adults aged 21 and up. This may seem like a victory to those who choose to partake in its usage on a regular basis, but for some, this recreational habit may not bode well when in the middle of a child custody battle with an ex-spouse or domestic partner. 3rd Jan 2020
When is a Collaborative Divorce Most Appropriate?
It’s never easy when a romantic relationship dissolves. When a marriage or legal partnership ends, there is usually even more at stake. If both parties recognize that the relationship is no longer salvageable and must end, divorce can be a painstaking process for everyone involved.Dec 2019
31st Dec 2019
The Benefits of an Involved Father in a Child’s Development
In CA, one of the primary tenets behind custody laws and family law in general is a high level of parental involvement from all sides. The family law code often favors 59/50 split custody for this reason, unless there are other factors a play or a child’s well-being is threatened under one of the parents.20th Dec 2019
Home Equity and Divorce: How does it work in CA?
When many couples purchase a home together, they often do so with the expectation that they’ll continue living in it happily together for years to come. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always pan out how we expect it, and soon-to-be-divorced couples often find themselves negotiating how to handle the shared home equity.For this post, we’re offering a quick look at the most common types of ways that home equity is either split or handled after a divorce.
12th Dec 2019
Responding to Abusive Communications from the Ex
As we see time after time, divorce can bring the worst in people. The anger or spitefulness can begin during any step of the divorce process, but it often reaches its peak near or around litigation proceedings. 5th Dec 2019
How Mediation Saves Your Money
Whenever someone gets involved in a legal dispute, there are often two main questions at the forefront: how can they protect their interests in the resulting outcome, and how can this be achieved via the most efficient way possible? These questions certainly apply to disputes involving family law.Oct 2019
30th Oct 2019
A Crash Course on Spousal Support Petitions in California
A divorce judgement will often include spousal support for one of the partners. This is financial support that is designed to give that person stability while he/she navigates their new life without the other partner. The exact amounts and duration of these payments varies, so most people don’t know exactly what to expect when it comes to spousal support.25th Oct 2019
Ask a CA Divorce Attorney: Keeping Divorce Costs Down
As if dealing with the emotional side of your divorce isn’t enough, having to deal with steep divorce costs can be downright demoralizing. Cost is certainly one of the biggest concerns we hear about when we meet with clients. The truth is that divorce costs can range, especially because no two divorces are exactly alike.12th Oct 2019
Can I Record My Spouse Without Him or Her Knowing?
At the Law Office of James P. White, we often hear about the problems that lead up to a divorce. Naturally, many people who are stuck in a bad marriage are often looking to protect themselves as they prepare for the upcoming divorce. 4th Oct 2019
An Overview of Online Divorce in CA
With smartphones in everyone’s pockets, it feels like everything has finally caught up to the online era. You can do basically everything online these days, and now you can add divorce to that list of things. Sep 2019
30th Sep 2019
Co-Parenting Complications: Pitfalls You Need to Look Out For
We know that, despite any conflicts between parents, most people love their children and want them to thrive. This is why so many separated parents, along with the California family law courts, often work towards establishing a co-parenting plan. This approach ensures that a child spends time with both parents and is raised in a loving and caring environment.20th Sep 2019
Wedding Debt and Divorce: Is There a Connection?
When it comes to weddings, many people are willing to go all out. After all, many believe that the perfect wedding should include the ideal venue, caterers, an impressive wedding cake, extravagant wedding outfits, a professional photographer, and more!12th Sep 2019
The Biggest Factors Influencing CA Child Custody Decisions
We at the Law Offices of James P. White deal with a wide variety of family law issues. Year after year, we help our clients work through tough issues such as child support, the terms of a divorce, asset division, and more. One of the biggest areas we work in continues to be child custody, and for good reason.5th Sep 2019
Preparing for a Successful Divorce: How Do I Choose an Attorney?
As people prepare for a divorce, the questions come quickly. How will child custody be determined? Will child support or spousal support be granted? Who gets to keep the house and/or any other assets? These are just some of the questions that may be swimming in your head as you prepare for your California divorce.Aug 2019
27th Aug 2019
Arbitration: A Potential Solution for your California Divorce Disputes
Arbitration, like mediation, is a form of alternative dispute resolution that can help you wrap up your divorce without having to go through the usual lengthy proceedings. Unlike mediation, however, the process is a bit more formal and the arbitrator ends up handing down a “ruling” after hearing both sides of the argument.27th Aug 2019
Mediation Myths: Which of These Rumors Have You Heard?
Courtroom drama and divorce stories are always big on TV and other forms of popular entertainment. While this is great for producers, viewers often take what they see and assume that real family law proceedings work the same way. 1510th Aug 2019
How Does a Disability Impact Child Support Payments?
Child support payments, while important, can sometimes feel like a financial burden. This is especially true when you consider the potential for unexpected circumstances such as a physical disability. Today, we want to look at what happens to child support parents when the paying parent becomes disabled and is potentially no longer able to work. This scenario can be a disaster for all involved parties, especially the child depending on the payments for his/her basic needs.5th Aug 2019
How Can I Collect Missed Child Support Payments?
Missed child support payments are a problem that far too many single parents struggle with. When the other parent shirks his or her financial responsibility, this can leave the other party hanging and potentially unable to provide for the child’s basic needs. Naturally, the California family law courts don’t look kindly upon those who miss their child support payments, which is why there are established legal procedures you can explore when trying to collect missing payments.