Is There Common Law Marriage in California?

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… Read more »

What Happens If My Spouse or Partner or I Pay Joint Debts or Expenses after We Separate?

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… Read more »

How is the Monthly Amount of Child Support Calculated?

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… Read more »

What Happens to Spousal Support If the Recipient Decides to Live with a Significant Other?

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… Read more »

You are Preparing to Separate. What Should You Consider if You are Going to Stay in the House or Use a Jointly Owned Car?

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

“Watts” charges or credits refers to the case of In Re the Marriage of Watts. The court in that case dealt with the issue of what happens when one party in a divorce uses a community asset after separation. Common situations are when one party stays in the family residence and the other moves out… Read more »

How is Spousal Support Calculated?

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

Divorcing spouses may agree on how much support will be paid, the length of time it will be paid, and other aspects of spousal support, sometimes called alimony. In the absence of an agreement, there are two different methods a judge will use to determine spousal support. At the beginning of a case, when the… Read more »