Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

The health and safety of our clients, staff and colleagues is our top priority. At Conner, Lawrence, Rodney, Olhiser & Barrett LLP, we take the challenges of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) very seriously.


In compliance with the “shelter in place” order, our team will be working remotely starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Regardless of where we are working, we will endeavor to deliver the high level of service you deserve.
The Sonoma County courts closed on Monday, March 16, 2020, and are currently scheduled to be closed through Friday, April 3, 2020, other than for emergency orders. We expect that we will not be able to file any non-emergency paperwork and that any items we have previously submitted will not be processed until April at the earliest. We anticipate further delays after that based on the experience we had when the courts were closed due to fire.

However, we will be continuing to work remotely. Our mediation and legal services are still available:


• You will still be able to reach members of our team by phone and email as usual. Your calls will be routed to our receptionist’s home and she will then forward a message to the person you called.

• We will be to speak either by phone or by secure video conference meetings for consultations, mediations, and or any joint sessions.
We wish you and all our clients and colleagues the best of health in this uncertain time.

Posted by & filed under Divorce, Estate Planning, Legal.

Common law marriage generally refers to a marriage that is considered valid by both partners, but has not been formally registered with a state or church registry, or a formal religious service. It is only available in a limited number of places and is not available in California. Most jurisdictions in which common law marriages are available require that the couple live together and hold themselves out to the world as husband and wife. In jurisdictions that do recognize common law marriages, such a marriage has the same legal effect as a traditional ceremonial marriage in terms of the couple’s rights and obligations to each other.

While a couple residing in California cannot contract for a common law marriage, California will recognize valid common law marriages that originated in other states. In other words, if a couple entered into a valid common law marriage in Alabama, which permits common law marriage, then moves to California as a married couple, California will recognize the couple as married.

Although common law marriages are not available in California, California does recognize that in certain situations, an unmarried couple can create a contractual relationship which may form the basis for claims for partner support, sometimes referred to as “palimony” or a claim for division of assets and debts acquired during the relationship. In Marvin v. Marvin (1976) the California Supreme Court recognized that such contracts may be implied by the conduct of the parties. However, these contractual relationships are not the same as the rights and obligations that exist between a married couple, and they are generally governed by contract law rather than the California Family Code.

Posted by & filed under Estate Planning, Finances, Legal.

Think about your children for a moment. As YOU get older, your kids begin to be concerned that there might be a mess to sort out when you are gone. They probably find it very difficult to talk about this with you, perhaps because they are afraid you will think they want you to die. Whether you talk about it or not, your kids are probably worried about what happens when you die and they have to figure things out.


A properly constructed estate plan will ensure that no part of your estate will go through probate; will reduce your risk of paying estate taxes; will reduce your capital gains taxes; will reduce the income taxes paid by your heirs and beneficiaries; and will ensure that should you become incapacitated there will be someone you have chosen, taking over your finances and your medical decisions; and, most importantly, will ensure that your assets go where you want them to go in the manner you wish.

The relief your children—and your extended family—will experience when they know you have made decisions and planned for the orderly and secure transfer of your estate is enormous. When adult children learn that their parents have set up an estate plan, I see the visible relief and comfort in their faces. You, your spouse, your children, and others will be secure in knowing that your estate has been protected and preserved.

Posted by & filed under Divorce, Financial, Legal, Separation.

When couples decide to separate, it often takes some time to sort out their finances.  Sometimes, they still live together and have a lot of joint expenses.  Even when they are not living together, they may still have joint debts such as credit cards, car and other installment payments, and a mortgage.

There are different ways of handling finances after separation.  Some couples pool their income during their relationship by depositing all income into one bank account and paying all expenses from that account and continue to do that after they separate.  Some people have or obtain separate bank accounts after they decide to separate and reach informal agreements about who will pay which expenses, and whether one of them will contribute to the other’s expenses.  In some cases, a formal agreement or court order mandates a specific amount of support and who will pay which debts or expenses.  Finally, some people muddle through without any informal or formal agreements or court orders and somehow get expenses and debts paid.  So with the various ways of handling finances, at the time of the divorce when the assets and debts are divided, the question arises about sorting out what happened with the finances after separation.

In California, one of the underlying principles in family law is that when people are married or in a registered domestic partnership, they are creating a financial community, sharing their income and their expenses while they are together.  So when they separate, any debts or obligations that exist at the time they separate are the responsibility of both of them, not just the person who incurred them.

After they separate, however, they no longer have a joint financial community.  The income each earns belongs to the person who earned it and the expenses each incurs after they separate is his or her individual responsibility.  But if one person uses his individual income after separation for joint debts from before separation, then he or she is given credit for using his or her own income to pay a community obligation.  So for example, if I make credit card payments after I separate totaling $2,000 on the old balance (not new charges after separation), when the assets and debts are divided, I will be given credit for paying down the debt in the amount of $2,000.  The same principle applies to joint expenses paid by one spouse after separation, such as payments on a joint insurance policy or payments for an asset that is being shared such as when people live in the same house. These credits are referred to by family lawyers and judges as “Epstein credits”.  There are two exceptions to the general rule that credit is given for post-separation payments.  One is that if you are using an asset (such as a car), then typically you aren’t given credit for the payments for that asset (such as the monthly loan payment) if the payment is approximately the same as the value of using the asset.  The other exception is that if the payments are a substitute for support (e.g. you are paying the mortgage for the house your spouse is living in and not paying cash support), then you would not receive an Epstein credit.

Posted by & filed under Estate Planning, Finances, Legal.

Many people think that if they are not rich, they don’t need an estate plan.  Many more people figure that “things will just work out” when they die.  The vast majority of people don’t like to think about dying.Many people think that if they are not rich, they don’t need an estate plan.  Many more people figure that “things will just work out” when they die.  The vast majority of people don’t like to think about dying.

 

You know at some level, however, that your good health may not last all of your life, and that someday your life will end. You may be concerned about what will happen when you can no longer manage your affairs, or what will happen to the lives of the ones you love, or the organizations you passionately care about, when you are no longer here to make decisions.

 

You . . . and I . . . and everyone else who has had some success in life, worry about what will happen when we die.  You want your family—and perhaps others—to have the assets that came from your hard work over a lifetime. Estate planning is the rational process of facing those worries and concerns, and finding options and effective ways to deal with them.  When you do estate planning, you remove a huge load from your mind, and you remove an equally huge burden from the minds of those you love and wish to support into the future. Setting up an estate plan is one of the finest gifts you will ever give to your loved ones.

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As part of the dissolution process, all community property assets are subject to division, including retirement assets. There are specific orders that are used to divide retirement assets, known as Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO). These orders generally define (1) how the community property interest in a spouse’s retirement is calculated, and (2) how the non-employee spouse is going to receive his or her share of that retirement. If the retirement account is a 401(k) or IRA, or other form of defined contribution plan, the non-employee spouse may be able to immediately take his/her share of the retirement asset and move it into an IRA in his/her own name. If the retirement is from a pension, the non-employee spouse may receive his or her share of the retirement on a monthly basis, after the participant spouse retires. QDROs
are utilized even if the employee spouse has already retired and is receiving retirement income.

Posted by & filed under Divorce, Finances, Financial, Kids, Legal, Separation.

In California, in the absence of an agreement providing otherwise, child support is calculated by using a “guideline” formula, which takes into consideration the respective incomes of each parent, the percentage of time the child has with each parent, and various other factors that affect an individual’s income or taxes.  This formula is based on an assumption that a certain percentage of the family’s total income is spent on the children.  When a parent’s share of the family income is higher than his or her share of the time with the children, child support is used to shift income to the other parent.  In most cases, the guideline amount is followed by the court; there can be unusual circumstances that warrant a change from the guideline amount.

Because the mathematical formula is complex, attorneys and courts use computer programs, such as DissoMaster and SupporTax, to calculate guideline support.   Individuals can use the statewide guideline calculator online, located here: http://www.childsup.ca.gov/Resources/CalculateChildSupport.aspx.  Be aware that even small changes in the input numbers can create significant differences in the guideline support amount, and that different programs generate slightly different results.  The actual amount of support to be paid in any case is ultimately determined by the judge.

The base monthly support is for living expenses, such as housing, clothing, food, etc., for the time the children are in the care of one parent.  If a parent has the children 30% of the time, she or he is expected to pay 30% of these expenses. Child support agreements or orders often have “add-ons” for additional expenses such as uncovered health care expenses or child care.

Posted by & filed under Divorce, Legal, Separation.

You have decided to get a divorce and hope to work it out peacefully. How can you prepare for talking to your spouse about an amicable divorce?

1. Educate yourself about the options. You can do your own divorce but often people need professional help to avoid problems. Mediation and Collaborative Practice are two methods where you and the professionals commit to working it out without going to court. Learn more about these methods and whether they are a good fit for you. One good resource is a monthly program in California, “Divorce Options” which describes the different options and some basic information about divorce: http://cpcal.org/DivorceOptions.aspx . In Sonoma County, Divorce Options workshops are held on the second Saturday of each month at the Collaborative Practice Center. The legal self-help publisher Nolo Press has an excellent book, “Divorce Without Court” which provides useful information http://www.nolo.com/products/divorce-without-court-dwct.html. You can also meet with a divorce professional to learn about how these options might work for your particular situation.

2. Choose carefully how to start the conversation with your spouse. The way you initiate the conversation about your divorce is a signal to your spouse about your actual intent to work together. Catching her on the fly as she is leaving for work is not a good plan! Ask your spouse when she can have an important discussion and be willing to listen to her preferences. Agree in advance on how long each of you will set aside so you won’t have to end abruptly. Decide on a location where you both feel safe and won’t be interrupted.

3. Tailor the conversation to you and your spouse’s needs. Think about how each of you makes decisions. Starting an amicable divorce is a decision you and your spouse will make together. How does your spouse like to make decisions? Does he like to do his own research? Pass on some of the links to resources you found and let him explore from there. Does he like to read information someone has compiled for him? Print out chapters from books you have read or articles you find about divorce options. Would he be more open if he suggested how to divorce? Ask him how he would like to do it before you make your own suggestion. Be willing to listen to his concerns and be willing to express your own concerns in a constructive way. At the end of the conversation, describe what you believe the two of you have agreed upon and see if he agrees. Express your appreciation for the willingness to work together and your hope and intentions for the process.

 

Posted by & filed under Divorce, Finances, Financial, Separation.

If the recipient of spousal support elects to cohabit with someone with whom he or she is romantically involved, it may affect the recipient’s rights to continue receiving spousal support.

 

If the recipient of spousal support elects to cohabit with someone with whom he or she is romantically involved, it may affect the recipient’s rights to continue receiving spousal support.  Family Code Section 4236 says that there is a presumption of a reduced need for spousal support if a person cohabits.  In other words, when the recipient of support cohabits, the law assumes that a portion, if not all, of his or her expenses are reduced as a result of living with another person and that the need for spousal support is significantly less.  Regardless of whether or not this is accurate, the recipient of spousal support then has the responsibility to convince a judge that there is still a need for spousal support, despite the cohabitation.  This can be established by showing that his or her monthly expenses remain the same and that he or she is not financially advantaged by the cohabitation.

Posted by & filed under Estate Planning, Finances, Financial, Legal.

A trust does NOT protect you from creditors. One of the wonderful things about a trust is that it is so very, very easy to deal with after you set it up. There are no formalities to follow, no forms to file, no permission to ask. You DO have to title you assets into your trust. Once this is done, however, you continue to control your assets in trust completely, and you may use them as you wish.


The flip side of this good news is that since trust assets are YOURS, they are subject to your creditors. If you are sued, and the plaintiff gets a judgment against you, he or she can attach your assets even if they are in the trust.

The only way to really protect your assets from creditors is to make them not your assets anymore. This has its own downside. Let’s say you have a creditor, and let’s say you own a rental property. Your creditor can take your property even if it is held in trust. You can avoid that by giving your property to your brother, but then you don’t own it anymore. Maybe your brother will give it back later, or maybe HIS creditors will go after it. Don’t rely on a trust to protect your property from creditors.