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California Divorce Blawg

News and information about divorce, pre-nuptial agreements, parenting, paternity, property division, support, collaborative divorce, mediation, and parenting coordination, particularly in California.
By John E. Harding, JD, CFLS

Post Frequency: 8.3/day

Last Entry: November 19, 2009 at 14:39:23

More Fathers Are Getting Custody in Divorce

Posted on November 19, 2009
Is there a new trend regarding fathers and child custody? An interesting article from the online edition of the New York Times suggests that there is. Working Mother Magazine published a package of articles on Tuesday called ?Lost Custody,? about...

Assets Accrued During Later Marriage Are Available To Pay Child Support In Earlier Marriage

Posted on November 18, 2009
Until 1994, if a parent paying child support remarried, the court had the discretion to consider the income of a new spouse in connection with a motion to modify support. In 1994 this rule was changed so that the income...

Text Messages Can Spell Divorce

Posted on November 12, 2009
Text messaging has exploded as a communications tool. I would venture a guess that it is catching up on e-mail? Today Law.com featured an article by National Law Journal reporter Tresa Baldes detailing how text messages are coming into play...

The New Take On Spousal Support

Posted on November 06, 2009
For years I have been telling my clients that the goals and purposes behind spousal support (commonly referred to as "alimony") are changing. It seems that change is gaining momentum. The on-line edition of the Wall Street Journal offers an...

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Are the LA Dodgers Community Property?

Posted on October 29, 2009
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie have split. The fireworks have begun in their California (Los Angeles County) divorce. In addition to requesting $448,000 per month in spousal support, Ms. McCourt is also asserting that she is a...

ABA Military Pro Bono Project Needs Volunteer Lawyers

Posted on October 19, 2009
The American Bar Association's Military Pro Bono Project connects active-duty military personnel to free legal assistance for civil legal issues beyond the scope of services provided by a military legal assistance office. The Project's web portal has been created to...

California Has Very Specific Requirements When You Try To Enforce Support Orders From The Courts Of Other Countries

Posted on September 30, 2009
Natalija and Nikolai were married and living in California. Eventually Natalija moved to London, and then got court orders as part of a divorce in the UK. One of the orders in the British case ordered Nikolai to pay 50,000...

Richard Pryor's Daughter Cannot Annul His Marriage.

Posted on September 30, 2009
Richard Pryor was a well-known comedian and actor. He had six children, including Elizabeth. Richard was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-1980?s. He was married to Jennifer in 1981 and they divorced in 1982. On June 8, 2001, pursuant...

?Secular progressive? wants to ban divorce in California

Posted on September 28, 2009
The latest move in California's evolving laws of marriage would have divorce banned. From San Diego News Network.com we get this story. A Sacramento man wants to ban divorce in California. John Marcotte filed an initiative - the California Marriage...

The New Economic Realities of Family Court

Posted on September 25, 2009
These days question number one from friends and acquaintances is, "how's business in these tough economic times?" I tell them business is busy. Then the question is typically rephrased to "how is the economy affecting families? Is it leading to...

How A Forensic Accountant Can Help In Divorce

Posted on September 21, 2009
Very simply put, forensic accounting is accounting that is used in a legal setting. Seth Gordon offers a great article, originally published on womansdivorce.com, on this important field In a divorce scenario (which may include child support issues), a forensic...

Social Networking And Divorce

Posted on September 11, 2009
With the advent of social networks such as twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc., many people have made their private lives very public. For some these social networking outlets have become online journals of the most intimate nature. Legal commentators including totaldivorce...

Divorce Classes To Help You Get Through

Posted on August 27, 2009
Many people today have gone through a divorce or have been affected by the process in one way or another. It only seems appropriate that in today?s society, there are classes to help people make it through this long, emotional...

Software to help calendar and track child visitation

Posted on August 12, 2009
The folks at Custody X Change keep making their timeshare and child visitation software better! They have just released version 2.5. This is a very exciting release that includes the ability to track actual visitation time and keep a log...

Interpol, kidnapping, death threats, covert ops. Here's a child custody case for you!

Posted on August 11, 2009
Husband and wife got married in Pakistan. They took up residence in Fremont, California and a child was born in California. Wife then took child to Pakistan for a vacation, and decided not to come back. For the next six...

Planning For Divorce

Posted on August 06, 2009
"How do I plan for divorce?" That is a question that I am asked time and time and time again. You would think it would be easy to answer? It is not. There are too many facets on the stone....

Virginia Divorce & Custody Law

Posted on July 29, 2009
Recently received a note from my friend Jon Frieden that his firm's Virginia Divorce & Custody Law blog is up and running. Click here to take a peek if you have questions about Virginia law. Please be sure to visit...

Accessing spouse's e-mail is grounds for Domestic Violence Restraining Order

Posted on July 29, 2009
Husband was found to have accessed wife's e-mail account, used information from that account to keep track of her, and publicly disclosed confidential information that he had gotten from the e-mail account. The court determined that this conduct was sufficient...

Get Your Past Due Child Support Suspended Drivers License Back

Posted on July 24, 2009
August is Child Support Awareness Month in California. If your driver license is suspended because of child support debt, you may be able to buy it back and ?Get Back on the Road Again." Contact your local Department of Child...

How to Move On After a Divorce

Posted on July 09, 2009
Divorce is a difficult time in every person?s life: you get married once, and you think it?s going to last forever only to discover that the two of you are incompatible in the end. This crushing admission of defeat in...

Voluntary Acknowledgement Wins in Competing Presumptions of Paternity

Posted on June 29, 2009
The Family Law Prof blog reports on an extremely messy case involving dramatically differing stories from the parties and the intersection of four separate statutory provisions governing paternity, the California Court of Appeals held that a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity...

Parental Alienation Syndrome

Posted on June 25, 2009
Parental Alienation Syndrome ("PAS") is a hot topic in family law. There is a school of support for PAS, and a school adverse to it as a junk science. The essence of the theory is that one parent poisons the...

Domestic Violense Only Creates A Rebuttable Presumption Against Custody

Posted on June 16, 2009
Petitioner Keith R. (Father) and real party in interest H.R. (Mother) were married in mid-2004. B.R. (Daughter) was born in the fall of 2005. After Father filed for divorce in September 2006, Mother asserted domestic violence allegations against Father, and...

Ted Olson and David Boies Join The Prop 8 Fray

Posted on June 10, 2009
On Tuesday, lawyers Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, who represented opposing sides in the 2000 Bush v. Gore election challenge, announced they had filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of two gay men and two gay women...

Call for Papers - Collaborative Law

Posted on June 05, 2009
Hofstra Law Review has issued a call for papers for an upcoming special symposium issues on Collaborative Law and the Uniform Collaborative Law Act: Opportunities, Challenges, and Questions for the Future In addition to featuring the Uniform Collaborative Law Act,...

Mel Gibson Divorce Update

Posted on June 04, 2009
For all of my celebrity divorce fans, here is an update on Mel Gibson's California divorce proceedings. Mel Gibson may soon be writing one of the biggest checks of his life ? to his wife. With no indication that the...

California Supreme Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Posted on May 26, 2009
The California Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a ban on same-sex marriage that state voters passed in November, but it allowed about 18,000 marriages performed before the ban to remain valid. Opponents of the ban argued that the controversial Proposition...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on May 19, 2009
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Divorce and Bankruptcy

Posted on May 08, 2009
Unfortunately, one calamity often leads to another and sometimes divorce and bankruptcy occur in tandem. In this entry, you'll find an explanation of why bankruptcy and divorce sometimes go hand-in-hand and what you may expect if the two happen in...

Majority of Children of Divorce Think Both Parents Are Equal When It Comes To Custody

Posted on April 23, 2009
I came across a survey of kids, and their thoughts on divorce. The survey asked two questions: 1) Are mothers and fathers equally capable for caring for young children following a divorce? 2) Are mothers and fathers equally qualified to...

Why Pay Attention To Gay Marriage?

Posted on April 08, 2009
I got an e-mail from an angry viewer of this blog complaining that I devote too much space to same sex marriage (not the exact language used, but close enough). The author also asked (I presume a rhetorical question?) why...

Iowa Supreme Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban

Posted on April 03, 2009
The Iowa Supreme Court has struck down the state?s ban on same-sex marriages in an opinion that notes other state rulings at the forefront of civil rights. The court ruled the ban violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa...

So What The Heck Is Community Property?

Posted on March 27, 2009
Community property is a legal policy creating a presumption that property acquired during a marriage is owned 50/50 by each spouse. California was the first state to define and adopt the community property system. It can be a complex legal...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on March 27, 2009
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Here's A Thought: Why Not Abolish Marriage?

Posted on March 20, 2009
From our friends at the Law Professor Blog, a provocative idea for ending marital strife. Abolish marriage: Marriage Developments - - - abolition or inclusion? Perhaps the solution to the "marriage wars" is the abolition of marriage? It's a proposal....

SPU Faculty Announcement

Posted on March 19, 2009
John Harding will be teaching family law at Solo Practice University.

More Divorce Cases Are Going To Trial

Posted on March 12, 2009
A wise family law lawyer once told me "the best divorce lawyers are the ones that are not going to court." That makes perfect sense. Lawyers get paid by the hour. Nothing consumes more of a lawyers time than a...

Rihanna/Chris Brown Restraining Order

Posted on March 09, 2009
For all you celebrity watchers (you know who you are!) Rihanna's restraining order against Chris Brown is available for viewing online. Click here for a look.Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding &...

Proposition 8 Constitutional? Arguments in California Supreme Court

Posted on March 06, 2009
The California Supreme Court heard a three hour argument in Strauss v. Horton, the challenge to Proposition 8's constitutionality. We've previously blogged about the issues here and here, including a report of the two panels held at AALS in San...

California Supreme Court Weighs Legality of Gay Marriage Ban

Posted on March 05, 2009

Parties cannot agree that there will be no downward modification of child support

Posted on March 04, 2009

Ex-Girlfriend Does Not Have Legal Right To Pursue Custody Of Ex-Boyfriend's Children When Long Term Relationship Ends

Posted on February 25, 2009
Bill and Rachel were never married, but they did have three children together. When they broke up Bill was given primary physical custody as part of the paternity action between the two of them. Bill then began dating Jan. The...

Top Reasons People Stay in a Marriage

Posted on February 17, 2009
While a large percentage of first marriages - and even more subsequent marriages - end in divorce, for many couples there are still very good reasons to stay in the marriage and make it work.Emotional Security - When your spouse...

What's the difference between a divorce, a legal separation, and an annulment?

Posted on February 10, 2009
A divorce (also called "dissolution of marriage" or "dissolution of domestic partnership") ends your marriage or domestic partnership. After you get divorced, you will be single, and you can marry or become a domestic partner again.If you get divorced, you...

State Supreme Court to hear arguments against Prop. 8

Posted on February 06, 2009
The California Supreme Court announced this week it will hear arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the state's ban on same-sex marriage, in San Francisco on March 5.The high court's written ruling on whether the voter initiative should be...

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Family Law Ruling Regarding Pensions

Posted on January 27, 2009
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision in a pension case that pitted an ex-wife against the pensioner's daughter.Mr. Kennedy (the pensioner) was an employee of DuPont and participated in their savings and investment plan (SIP) that was...

Obama's Presidential Family Law Agenda

Posted on January 21, 2009
The new Presidential website - - - www.whitehouse.gov - - - complete with its own blog, is a wealth of information regarding the new Administration's family law agenda. It has some specific proposals and ideas, which might inform classroom discussions,...

Shacking Up After Divorce

Posted on January 19, 2009
Shacking up after divorce may seem like a good idea when you've found someone you love. After all, it gives you a chance share your life with someone and get to know them better (and there's nothing wrong with that)....

Celebrity divorce and the 10-year itch

Posted on January 12, 2009
On MSN Money Liz Pulliam Weston gives us an insightful look at the 10 year rule in divorce, and why so many celebrities call it quits on marriage before their tenth anniversaries. Here's a taste of Liz's article:In California Divorce...

Surgeon Sues Estranged Wife for Return of Kidney

Posted on January 08, 2009
This is about a New York divorce case. However, it is crazy enough that I thought I would mention it here on the California Divorce Blawg.A Long Island surgeon embroiled in a nearly four-year divorce proceeding wants his estranged wife...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on December 18, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Collaborative Divorce

Posted on December 17, 2008
Collaborative divorce is a family law procedure by which the two parties agree that they will not go to court, or threaten to do so. The parties strive to reach a fair settlement through a series of four-way meetings between...

Busta Nutt! Sorry Jerry, you can go to jail, but you are still on the hook for child support.

Posted on December 15, 2008
Jerry B. Nutt found himself on the receiving end of a paternity/child support action. Jerry is also a guest of the State of California, staying at the Mule Creek State Prison until 2045. Jerry admitted paternity, and then argued that...

Family Law Tracing

Posted on December 15, 2008
My article entitled Selling Your Tracing! has been published by the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists Newsletter. Focusing on the mechanics of tracing, with an emphasis on the utilization of forensic accountants and graphics, the article appears in the...

Chicken Soup for Divorce

Posted on December 03, 2008
The folks behind the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul book franchise are offering their tips for families of divorce. The publishers contacted me recently to explain their new book. Here is what they had to say:Attitudes about divorce have...

California Prop 8 Goes To the California Supreme Court

Posted on November 21, 2008
From SFGate.com:The state Supreme Court plunged back into the same-sex marriage wars Wednesday, agreeing to decide the legality of a ballot measure that repealed the right of gay and lesbian couples to wed in California.Six months after its momentous ruling...

Shortest Celebrity Marriages

Posted on November 20, 2008
Britney Spears and Jason Allen Alexander. Lasted for 55 hours.Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra. Lasted for 9 days in November 1998.Mario Lopez married Ali Landry on 24 April 2004; two weeks later she had the marriage annulled.Drew Barrymore and Jeremy...

Pres-Elect Obama & Family Law

Posted on November 19, 2008
Regular readers of this blog will recall that I am a long time fan of the Family Law Prof blog. About a year ago the site underwent author changes and its timeliness and relevance went into steep decline. Lately things...

Divorce Actions by Guardians of Incompetents

Posted on November 19, 2008
From the Family Law Prof Blog:The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday a case in which a son is seeking a guardianship for his 87-year-old father and to bring a divorce action on his behalf. The news report provides plenty of...

We're Divorced -- you're not my friend

Posted on November 14, 2008
CNN.com has a provocative article dealing with dealing with an ex-spouse. The question asked and answered is "When does asking an ex-spouse for a favor cross the line?". An intriguing read. Click here to take a look.Please be sure to...

Danny Partridge/Danny Bonaduce Divorces

Posted on November 07, 2008
For all of our celebrity divorce fans, news out of Hollywood reports that Danny Bonaduce (aka child star Danny from The Partridge Family) and wife Gretchen have called it quits. The ex-Mrs. Bonaduce will receive $16,000 per month in support....

Election Day Was Big On Family Law Issues

Posted on November 07, 2008
From the Family Law Prof blog:Florida, Arizona & California each presented constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. Florida and Arizona both passed the amendment and, in California, with more than 95% of the vote counted, Proposition 8 leads 52...

New Question Posed in ERISA Case

Posted on November 03, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered lawyers to file new briefs by Nov. 10 on a new issue in a pending case testing a divorced spouse?s right to the other spouse?s pension benefits. The question was posed in Kennedy...

Going to Court For Child Support

Posted on October 29, 2008
Thanks to divorce360.com for a great article on the do's and dont's of paying and receiving child support. The article focuses on former boxing champ Evander Holyfield, who escaped a jail sentence for failing to obey a court's child support...

What Is A Certified Family Law Specialist?

Posted on October 28, 2008
The State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization grants certification status to qualified lawyers in the practice of family law. Certified family law specialists have recognized expertise in all areas of California family law including divorce, annulment, property division,...

Very Interesting Case Regarding International Child Custody Disputes

Posted on October 23, 2008
The United States Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit (St. Louis) has issued a very educational opinion concerning international custody disputes. In this case there was one family law case pending in Israel, and another one pending in Missouri....

Meeting Halfway for Child Visitation Exchanges

Posted on October 21, 2008
Frequently parents of divorce have an agreement, or a court order, to meet at a halfway point for purposes of exchanging their children for visitations. For families following such an arrangement, MeetWays is a neat website. Meetways.com was created to...

David Duchovny and Tea Leoni Headed For Splitsville

Posted on October 20, 2008
In a not-so-shocking announcement, actors David Duchovny and Tea Leoni have announced their separation just weeks after he left rehab for sex addiction.The couple just last week announced the split in this joint statement:In light of continuous speculation over the...

Madonna Getting Divorced

Posted on October 15, 2008
Madonna and her movie director Guy Ritchie are getting divorced. News of the long rumored split broke on CNN today. Click here for the story.Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding & Associates,...

The Old Engagement Ring Fight!

Posted on October 14, 2008
Interesting piece in the New York Times:When an engaged couple breaks up, does the ring go back to the one who bought it? Or does it remain in the hands ? and possibly on the hand ? of the recipient,...

Who Gets Custody Of The Pets?

Posted on October 13, 2008
Pets and divorce. This is a topic that seems to be gaining momentum. CNN recently did an article on the subject. According to CNN, "pet custody disputes in divorce are a growing area of the law. In a 2006 survey...

Divorce Mediation

Posted on October 10, 2008
Divorce mediation is now well-known and widely accepted. Mediation means different things to different people. In our mediation practice, you and your spouse will sit down in the same room with each other and with your neutral mediator. With the...

Client Trust Accounts And Bank Stability

Posted on October 08, 2008
On his LawBizBlog Ed Poll delivers some great information about attorney-client trust funds accounts ("IOLTAs"). Lawyers who hold money in trust on behalf of their clients (for example, retainers, house sale proceeds, etc.) can find themselves at the mercy of...

Missouri Divorce & Family Law Blog

Posted on October 07, 2008
Kansas City lawyer Mark A. Wortman puts out the Missouri Divorce & Family Law Blog, a very nice blog packed with current events and information relevant to Missouri and beyond. Check it out by clicking here. Please be sure to...

Couple splits up -- pet custody battle begins

Posted on October 06, 2008
Five years ago, Sara Vreed got embroiled in soap-opera-style custody arrangements with her ex-boyfriend -- and they don't even have children. What was at stake were the living arrangements for their 5-year-old canine, a Shetland sheepdog named Ivo. "After we...

More Moms Paying Child Support

Posted on October 02, 2008
More women are paying child support these days, according to the latest survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). In all, 55% of the respondents have cited an increase in the number of mothers who have been assigned...

Sleep With Your Wife's Sister and You Could Lose Your Green Card!

Posted on September 25, 2008
Jorge and Lilia got married. Lilia sponsored Jorge's application for a U.S. green card. Two weeks after she signed his final sponsorship papers Jorge told Lilia that he wanted a divorce. At the same time Lilia discovered that throughout their...

Sharon Stone Denied Change of Custody

Posted on September 24, 2008
The son of actress Sharon Stone and her ex-husband Phil Bronstein will continue living with his father in San Francisco. The actress had filed a motion in San Francisco Superior Court seeking a move-away order so that the boy could...

UK Family Law Website

Posted on September 24, 2008
I received an e-mail today from my friend John Rosley. John practices with Rosleys Solicitors in Nottingham, England, where he specializes in family law. John's note reminded me that there are lots of folks with cross-border questions when it comes...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on September 23, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

California Divorce Blawg On Top 50 List

Posted on September 18, 2008
Just got word from the folks at Soul Mate that the California Divorce Blawg appears on its Top 50 List! According to Soul Mate:This list of 50 divorce blogs are published with the intention of helping out other separated and...

I've Gotta New Blog

Posted on September 18, 2008
A lot of the visitors to the California Divorce Blawg are fellow family law lawyers. To all of my colleagues in the family law bar, I have started a new blog just for us. Family Lawyer Tech is dedicated to...

Show Me The Money! Finances Always A Part of Marital Bliss

Posted on September 18, 2008
An article on the New York Times website suggests that there is more to a good marriage than love and romance. Money counts for a lot, and couples with similar outlooks on finance have better, happier, longer marriages. Based on...

Georgia Family Law Blog

Posted on September 12, 2008
Stephen M. Worrall and Melissa A Mullin, are in charge at the Law Firm of Mullin & Worrall in Marietta, Georgia. In addition Worrall produces the Georgia Family Law Blog, which is a great resource for those with Georgia divorce...

How Much Would Your Child Support Be?

Posted on September 03, 2008
AllLaw.com has a nice little on-line California child support calculator on its website. Admittedly the AllLaw calculator is not as sophisticated as those used by the California Courts and California lawyers, but it is sufficient to give you a "ballpark"...

MyFamilyLaw.com

Posted on August 25, 2008
I am always on the look out for useful and informative family law websites that can help legal consumers. I have found a gem in MyFamilyLaw.com! MyFamilyLaw is an online reference and resource for marriage, divorce, prenups, custody, and all...

Actor Chris Kattan Calls It Quits On His 6 Week Marriage

Posted on August 25, 2008
Comedy actor and Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan has pulled the plug on his 6 week marriage to model Sunshine Tutt. Click here for more.Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding &...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on August 04, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Stupid Parent Tricks!

Posted on July 28, 2008
Thanks to divorcemag.com for posting an insightful article on mistakes parents make during divorce (and based on surveys conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers). This is a great, concise, right-on article for family law lawyers and parents engaged...

John Harding is named to 5th consecutive list of Super Lawyers for Northern California.

Posted on July 11, 2008
For the fifth year in a row John Harding has been named to the ?Northern California Super Lawyers? list. This list presents Northern California's top lawyers as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics....

Dating After Divorce: 50 Tips to Get Back into the Groove

Posted on June 16, 2008
Alisa Miller writes: Divorce can leave you reeling, but when you start to pick up the pieces of your life and decide to move back into dating, it can feel a bit strange. If you were married for a long...

Tooting My Own Horn!

Posted on June 04, 2008
I was recently made aware that I have been given a "Superb" rating from Avvo.com, the highest rating available. John Edward Harding View lawyer's profile Avvo is a website that rates and profiles every lawyer so consumers can choose the...

A Divorce Website For Kids

Posted on June 02, 2008
A Kid's Guide to Divorce is a nice little web page providing therapeutic information for children of divorcing families. Published by KidsHealth.org, the information is clean and simple. The KidsHealth.org site also has other useful information for kids...

State Bar of California Provides Answers to Divorce Questions

Posted on May 28, 2008
The State Bar of California has a tidy section on its website provided quick answers to typical divorce questions. This is a nice start for people starting their research on the divorce process in California. Check it out by clicking...

After Divorce, Stable Families Help Minimize Harm to Children

Posted on May 19, 2008
For children of divorce, what happens after their parents split up may be just as important to their long-term well-being as the divorce itself. A new study found that children who lived in unstable family situations after their parents divorced...

California Supreme Court Recognizes Same-Sex Marriage

Posted on May 15, 2008
The California Supreme Court today has decided that it is Unconstitutional to limit "marriages" to opposite-sex couples. Marriage cannot be limited to a union "between a man and a woman." The ruling recognizes the right of same-sex couples to engage....

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on May 08, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Without A Custody Order You Cannot Collect Child Support

Posted on May 08, 2008
Young Mr. Rodriquez's parents were divorced. His mother was the primary custodial parent by a court order, and he had spent most of his life living with his mother. During his senior year of high school it was decided that...

Neat Parenting Website for Divorced Families

Posted on April 29, 2008
A judge recently turned me on the OurFamilyWizard website. This fee based service provider offers secure, shared communication, schedules and information management for families. The site help parents who are separated, divorced or living apart and the family law professionals...

Gary Coleman Headed to Television's Divorce Court

Posted on April 28, 2008
The curse never seems to end for the kids from Diff'rent Strokes. This week, the former Arnold Jackson is back in the news, as actor Gary Coleman is preparing to undergo relationship counseling with 22-year-old wife Shannon Price -- after...

The YouTube Divorce!

Posted on April 23, 2008
You knew it had to happen. Someone has finally decided to air their dirty divorce laundry on YouTube! In a tearful and furious YouTube video with close to 150,000 hits to date, former actress and playwright ("Bonkers") Tricia Walsh-Smith lashes...

The Oregon Divorce Blog

Posted on April 10, 2008
I got an e-mail recently from Sean Stephens. Sean practices family law in Portland, Oregon. He was writing to let me know that The Oregon Divorce Blog, which his firm sponsors, has moved to a new location. To make sure...

Market slump makes divorce more difficult

Posted on April 07, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Carol Lloyd writes: Back in the days of the housing boom, I knew a couple whose marriage went sour, but they continued to live together for years after their divorce went through. Turns out the holy...

The "Parental Alienation Syndrome" Debate

Posted on April 03, 2008
Approximately one in two marriages in the United States ends in divorce, affecting about a million children per year. About 10% of these divorces involve custody litigation. Some children are or become emotionally estranged from one or both parents during...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on April 01, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

Maryland Divorce Legal Crier

Posted on March 31, 2008
Lawyer James Gross (and his law firm Thyden, Gross & Callahan) puts out the Maryland Divorce Legal Crier, a very nice blog packed with current events and information relevant to Maryland and beyond. Check it out by clicking here. Please...

Military Dads Seek Fair Child Support

Posted on March 31, 2008
Like many military reservists, Mark Wetzel took a pay cut when he was called for active duty last year. Instead of the $31,000 he earns as a nursing assistant in a Philadelphia hospital, he received $27,000 as a Navy corpsman...

What Does the Court Consider When Ruling on Child Custody and Visitation?

Posted on March 19, 2008
What should we do about the children? What will happen to the children? Who will get the children? These are questions that always come up in divorce. What are the answers? Rule number one is the children themselves. Under the...

Meet the Justices of the California Supreme Court

Posted on March 18, 2008
When it comes to family law most decisions are left to the states. The final arbiter of legal decisions in California is of course the California Supreme Court. That being the case Californians should know who their Supreme Court Justices...

2007: The Celebrity Divorce Year In Review

Posted on March 11, 2008
Celebrities and their divorces, how we love them! Who's Dated Who is a fun website loaded with a ton of information for all you celebrity divorce fans. Click here to visit the 2007 divorce headlines for the site. Once at...

California Supreme Court Hears Same Sex Marriage Case

Posted on March 05, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- -- Four years after thousands of same-sex couples streamed into this liberal bastion to apply for marriage licenses, the California Supreme Court on Tuesday took up the question of whether gay people have a constitutional right to...

California Considering On-line Domestic Violence Database

Posted on February 29, 2008
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the San Francisco Democrat who is the majority whip, introduced a bill last week to create an online database of men and women convicted of domestic violence in California. Other states like Florida have databases used by law enforcement officials...

Celebrity Divorce and the 10-year Itch

Posted on February 25, 2008
Britney and Kevin. Chris and Malaak. Renee and Kenny. These star couples, and plenty of others, make it clear: If you're going to dish on celebrity divorce, you need to know a thing or four about California divorce law. Because, as in so many other things, California does divorce differently than just about anywhere else...

Why Britney Lost Her Kids?

Posted on February 08, 2008
Joanna Grossman is a law professor at Hofstra Law School. She is also a FindLaw.com columnist. She has recently penned a column on the Britney Spears custody fiasco. Using Spears as her storyline, Professor Grossman does a great job of outlining the child custody process...

Ohio Family Law Blog

Posted on January 15, 2008
I recently received a note from Dayton, Ohio lawyer Chip Mues that his Ohio Family Law Blog is up and running. In addition to being in charge of the new blog, Chip is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, so, he is a busy guy! His blog looks great...

A Divorce Blog For Men

Posted on January 10, 2008
The archives for this blawg list several sites targeted at women. Sites targeted at men are hard to find. Now I have got one for you! Maryland lawyer Dawn Elaine Bowle has begun publishing the Maryland Father's Rights Blog. Check it out by clicking here...

First Wives World

Posted on January 08, 2008
I got an e-mail today from the publishers of a newish website called firstwivesworld. I gave it a visit, and WOW was I impressed. The site's intro explains: That firstwivesworld is a community for, and by, divorced women. You are never alone in a place complete with new friends experts, services, news and entertainment...

Maine Divorce Blog

Posted on January 08, 2008
Attorney Alan Nye presents a nice site focusing Maine family law. Click here for a visit.

Helpful Family Law Info On Findlaw

Posted on January 08, 2008
I like the Findlaw website. It has a ton of great information for lawyers and non-lawyers. The Family Law sections of the website are worth a look. Links are provided to information for most states. One of the family law pages I am mentioning is directed toward lawyers, but should also be useful to non-lawyers...

Celebrity Divorce and the 10-Year Itch

Posted on January 03, 2008
Britney and Kevin. Chris and Malaak. Renee and Kenny. These star couples, and plenty of others, make it clear: If you're going to dish on celebrity divorce, you need to know a thing or four about California divorce law. Because, as in so many other things, California does divorce differently than just about anywhere else...

Pamela Anderson Getting Divorced Again?

Posted on December 18, 2007
First she was. Then she wasn't. The fickle love life of model, groupie, actress, magician's assistant Pam Anderson continues. Depending on the time of day and the story, she may be divorcing from her latest husband -- whoever he is....

Get Remarried After Divorce to Save The Environment

Posted on December 03, 2007
Divorce leaves more than a trail of legal documents, stinging egos and uprooted kids. The split-ups wreak havoc on the environment. A global trend of soaring divorce rates has led to a surge in the number of households with fewer people. The result: We collectively devour more space and gobble up more energy and water, say the authors of a new study published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...

Hulk Hogan Headed for Divorce

Posted on November 26, 2007
Apparently, Hulk Hogan doesn't know best when it comes to his marriage. The retired wrestler was reportedly blindsided by the news that his wife, Linda Marie Bollea, had filed for divorce after 24 years together. Reached for comment Friday by the St...

Dating after divorce: When to reveal your past

Posted on November 06, 2007
After his 10-year marriage ended in 2004, New Yorker Phil Lee, 42, found himself tagged with the modern-day scarlet letter: "D" -- divorced. He wondered how that (not to mention his three children, ages 19, 11 and 9) would affect his future dating life...

Why would a divorce attorney get married?

Posted on November 04, 2007
R. Leigh Frost is a divorce attorney; she decided to get married anyway (And she doesn't even have a prenup). It's proof: Hope still exists in the world. Click here to read more. Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding & Associates, for more information on California family law...

Massachusetts Divorce & Family Law Blog

Posted on October 30, 2007
Steven Ballard is a Massachusetts lawyer with offices in Wellesley and Worcester. Click here to visit is wonderful Massachusetts blog. Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding & Associates, for more information on California family law...

Weddings in India Don't Always Work in America

Posted on October 29, 2007
The tradition of the arranged marriage goes back generations in India. The culture sets that lead to these rituals in India do not always carry over should the couple resettle in North America. Click here to read an intriguing story on the culture clash that can follow...

Family Law

Posted on October 27, 2007
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including, but not limited to: the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;issues arising during marriage, including spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction;the termination of the relationship and ancillary matters including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, and parental responsibility orders (in the United States, child custody and visitation, child support awards)...

Power To The Pets

Posted on October 23, 2007
On September 11, 2007 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law SB 353 amending Family Code �6320 to provide that a Court, upon a showing a good cause, may grant exclusive care of any animal to a party, and may further restrain the other party from taking, attacking or harming the animal...

Utah Divorce & Family Law Blog

Posted on October 19, 2007
Lawyer Gregory W. Stevens provides information about divorce and family law in Utah. Click her for a visit. Please be sure to visit www.hardinglaw.com, the website for the law firm of Harding & Associates, for more information on California family law...

The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide

Posted on October 17, 2007
I got a phone call from attorney Helene Taylor asking me to take a look at a website she has created. I did, and Wow! The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide is stellar. Helene has created a fantastic site packed with information. While the target market is obviously women, the site has so much information that it warrants a visit by anyone with family law questions...

Google discussion group answers divorce questions

Posted on October 15, 2007
Information is power! People going through divorce need the information to understand (not necessarily appreciate) the process. Good divorce lawyers welcome educated clients, because it makes the lawyer's job easier. Surfing the net I found a valuable resource for client information...

Schwarzenegger vetoes gay marriage bill

Posted on October 14, 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger followed through Thursday on his promise to veto a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, leaving the issue up to voters or judges who will likely face the volatile issue in the next year. ?This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue,? the Republican governor said in a veto message...

Summary of family laws for all 50 states

Posted on October 12, 2007
The Family Law Quarterly, published by the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association publishes charts summarizing basic family laws in each state by topic, including custody, alimony and grounds for divorce. All charts are current as of November 2006...