Category Archives: Family Law
Home Alone: How Young is Too Young in California?
Parents who are navigating custody issues often face the tricky question of when it is legal and safe to leave their child home alone in California. Can your ex leave your 13-year-old alone for a night out? Is it okay to leave your 10-year-old for a quick trip to the store? Can a 13-year-old… Read More »
California’s New Child Custody Law: Firearm Access Now a Key Factor
In a significant development for California family law, courts across the state are now required to consider a parent’s illegal firearm access or ownership when making certain child custody and visitation decisions. This 2025 legal reform demonstrates California’s stance that gun access, even without a history of violence, can create serious risks in contentious… Read More »
California Dependency & Parentage: Lessons from Miles v. Gernstein and In re Marriage of J.G. & K.G.
The California Court of Appeals has recently issued two influential decisions that underscore the evolving legal landscape in dependency and parentage law. These cases—Miles v. Gernstein (March 28, 2025) and In re Marriage of J.G. & K.G. (May 2, 2025)—both ultimately serve to highlight the California court’s efforts to reinforce the “best interests of… Read More »
Can Unwed Parents be Ordered to Pay Their Share of IVF Costs?
Families do not all follow the same formula. California courts have continued to evolve to reflect the realities of today’s families. For those navigating parenthood without marriage, a key question has recently been answered by a new case: Can unwed parents be ordered to share the cost of IVF treatment? This issue has recently… Read More »
Understanding Coercive Control in California Divorce Proceedings
One of the most misunderstood forms of abuse is coercive control – a pattern of behavior used to dominate, isolate, and disempower a partner. California has taken bold steps toward recognizing the complexity of abuse beyond physical violence. Legally defined under California Family Code section 6320, “coercive control” is now recognized as a form… Read More »
What is California’s Marriage Presumption?
Marriage Presumption – what this phrase refers to, is that in California, a child who is born to two parents who are married to one another then the child is presumed to be the biological child of the husband. However, as Leo Tolstoy penned “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy… Read More »
Divorce Appeals in California: What You Need to Know
Navigating the aftermath of a divorce can be challenging, especially if you believe the court’s decision was unjust. In California, the legal system has developed to provide a way for individuals to contest certain court decisions that they believe to be unjust, through an appeals process. This article aims to offer a brief overview… Read More »
Spousal Support & Proving Financial Hardship Due to Disability
Life can take unexpected turns, and coming into financial hardship due to disability can impact your ability to earn a living and in turn affect spousal support payments. Whether the disability occurred due to accident, illness, or even a catastrophic event – disability can come with significant cost making the need to modify spousal… Read More »
Enforcing California Child Custody & Visitation Orders
California courts prioritize the child’s best interests when they establish child custody and visitation orders. In determining what will serve the child’s best interests, the courts will consider many factors. This will likely include items such as: The child’s age, The child’s emotional and physical well-being, The child’s relationship with each parent, Any history… Read More »
What is NOT Community Property in California?
Under California law, generally assets and debts acquired by either spouse from the date of marriage through the date of separation is presumptively community property and is subject to the divided equally between the two spouses if they divorce. There are exceptions to this general rule making certain assets and debts as separate property… Read More »
