California is a community property state, which means that you and your spouse will be expected to divide your marital property 50-50. Community property may include things like your automobiles, your home, clothing, furniture, pension plans, patents and more, which...
Divorce
The potential benefits of a mediated divorce
Imagine a divorce where the separating couple mutually agrees on pertinent issues surrounding their divorce without contesting anything. It might sound far-fetched, but with mediation, it is possible. Unlike a contested divorce which plays out in court, mediation can...
How to talk to your boss about your divorce
You’re part of a professional practice with a boss or partners, assistants, employees and clients -- all of whom expect you to be available, attentive and oriented to your work. That can present a big problem when you’re going through a divorce. Whether you want the...
2 assets that you need to value carefully in a California divorce
When you file for divorce in California, you and your spouse will have to divide marital property. You can potentially reach your own settlement or you can litigate the property division process and have a judge apply California's community property laws to your...
Why should you consider hiring a divorce coach?
Divorce is one of the most difficult life events you can experience. What can make it particularly challenging is that you’re required to make multiple decisions that can affect you (and your children, if you have them) for many years to come. However, you have to...
How do you protect your reputation in a divorce?
In an ideal world, couples who don’t get along would peacefully separate and divorce with a minimum of fuss and little (or no) acrimony. Unfortunately, it’s far from a perfect world -- and even a divorce that starts out reasonably amicable can get ugly as it proceeds....
When the arguments stop, is divorce a step closer?
Say you’re in a relationship where conflict is common. It seems like you’re always arguing and your partner is always frustrated with you. You often wonder if it means that the two of you are quickly heading toward a divorce. Then those arguments stop. It’s almost an...
4 steps to being financially organized during a high-asset divorce in California
Divorce can be a very simple process unless one is involved in a high-asset divorce. Property division, handling debt, children, alimony, and family-owned businesses call for a higher level of due diligence. When emotions are running high, it is important to be...
Do you have to pay your spouse’s credit cards off in a divorce?
Trying to predict your financial circumstances after a divorce is never easy unless you have a very strong prenuptial agreement with your spouse. There are so many variables that affect the outcome of divorce proceedings that even straightforward community property...
What does it mean to be in a community property state?
California is a state that practices community property law. What that means is that all marital assets are assumed to belong equally to both parties upon divorce. Both parties have the right to 50% of the assets shared in the marriage automatically, unless they have...