13,132 active listings

While every relationship comes with its own ups and downs, apparently there could be one indicating factor in if a relationship will survive or not.

Can You Tell When a Marriage Will End?

Over the years, numerous studies have been done to see if it’s possible to tell when a marriage will end in divorce. Though there has been no definitive study, a recent one is positing a new factor – being over-affectionate.

Study Shows Outcome of Being Over-affectionate

A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that couples who are overly-affectionate from the beginning of a relationship, are more likely to divorce. Overly-affectionate is defined in this study as displaying more than understandable levels of affection towards each other. So you might just want to reconsider being all-over each other – it might affect the outcome of your relationship.
The study followed 168 couples for 13 years to discover what signals predict divorce and what signs indicate a healthy long-lasting marriage.
“As newlyweds, the couples who divorced after seven or more years were almost giddily affectionate, displaying about one-third more affection than did spouses who were later happily married,” the authors of the study wrote.
So does burning bright mean burning out?
Maybe not
Alternatively, couples who fought from the outset of the relationship and did not display overt signs of affection also indicated an increased likelihood of divorce, according to the study.
According to the authors of the study, they concluded that for a marriage to be successful, a steady and unwavering affection towards one another is important to establish a “stable marital bond.”

What Divorce Means for You

According to statistics, nearly 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce, or a dissolution of marriage, and whether your divorce is uncontested or contested – meaning you and your spouse disagree on one or more issues – it’s important to fight for what is rightfully yours once the marriage ends. A failed marriage can be emotionally and financially draining and taking the right steps at the start of a divorce can help you protect your own interests, your children and your finances. Divorces are always easier to get through when both parties make a good faith effort to work together to reach an amicable solution to any potential disagreements, but, sadly, this is rarely the case in today’s divorce proceedings. Because of this fact, hiring an attorney with experience handling California divorce cases should be your first step when considering divorce or after you have been served divorce papers.
Our legal team at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles understands that not all marriages work out and that, regardless of the reason for the divorce, it is a difficult situation for both parties, deserving of compassion, honesty and personal attention, especially when the divorce is contested. The most highly-contested issues that may arise in California divorce cases include:

Marital Property Division – California is a community property state, which means that the debts and assets a couple acquires in marriage belong to both spouses equally and must therefore be divided equally in divorce. However, this does not include either spouse’s separate property, which may include gifts, inheritances or property that the spouse owned prior to the marriage.
High Net-Worth Divorce – Divorce proceedings become considerably more complicated when substantial property and assets are involved. This may include investment accounts, ownership rights to a business, or multiple pieces of real estate.
Spousal Support – Because California is a no-fault divorce state (described in detail below), proof of misconduct has no bearing on the judge’s decision to grant the divorce, but it can be relevant to the calculation of spousal support.
Child Support – Like all states, California requires parents to continue to support their children, even after divorce. Under California law, both parents have an equal duty to provide for their child until he or she reaches 19 years of age, and each parent is expected to contribute according to his or her ability.
Child Custody and Visitation – The presumption in most divorce cases is that it is in the best interest of the child to have continuing contact with both parents following a divorce. However, if the parents can’t agree on a parenting plan, the court will decide how they will share time with their children. If one parent is granted sole legal custody of a child in divorce proceedings, that parent holds the exclusive responsibility for making decisions related to the child’s education, health and welfare, though visitation rights may be granted to the other parent.
If you disagree on how your marital assets or debts should be divided, or if you aren’t happy with your child custody and visitation arrangements, an experienced Los Angeles divorce lawyer can provide a fast and fair resolution to these important legal issues.

How to File for Divorce in California

California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either party in a marriage has the right to file for divorce for no other reason than “irreconcilable differences,” and property settlements in CA divorce cases are not influenced by the behavior of either spouse, although child custody and visitation rights can be. Under California Family Code § 2320, in order for a judge to grant a divorce in California, one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for six months, and in most cases, the individual seeking divorce must file in his or her county of residence, where he or she must have lived for at least three months. Once the divorce papers have been filed, California law dictates that the filing party must wait at least six months from the date the other spouse received the paperwork before the divorce can be finalized.
Steps to Filing Divorce
The first step in filing a divorce is to contact a skilled divorce lawyer that can walk you through the steps of the process. There are 10 basic steps in every divorce:

• Preparing to file
• Filing
• Serving Divorce Papers
• Responding to the Divorce
• Temporary Orders
• Financial Disclosures
• Discovery
• Settlement
• Trial
• Post-Judgment Issues

Not all divorce cases in California go to court. In some cases, couples can resolve their divorce disputes through negotiation or mediation, during which an attorney can make sure your best interests are being represented. Too often, couples filing for divorce believe they can handle the proceedings on their own and end up making a bigger mess of their situation than they started with. While we do encourage spouses filing for divorce to reach an agreement outside of court and try to avoid divorce litigation altogether, especially when children are involved, our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorneys can assist with every aspect of the divorce process and will aggressively represent your case before a judge if it comes to that. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, we still stand by your side and ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the process.

Preparing to File

It’s always a good idea plan for your divorce. Once you have decided to follow through, you’ll want to work with a divorce lawyer. Your legal team should help you prepare to file. Here are some steps we recommend you take before filing:
1. Copy All Important Documents.
Divorce requires a lot of paperwork. You’ll want to locate and make copies of all documents related to your assets, debts, income, and expenses: tax returns, bank account statements, retirement account statements, life insurance policies, mortgage statements, auto insurance policies, credit card statements, and paycheck stubs. Create digital copies of these documents and upload them to the cloud using a new random password-protected file. In addition to financial documents, you may want to consider copying family photographs, home videos, and other sentimental items.
2. Remove Personal Items.
Gather up your Social Security Card, medical insurance information, birth certificate, passport, and other personal documents and place them in a safe place. So many times families mix these documents up – they get shuffled into random areas and mixed in with other things. Make sure you have everything located.
3. Change Passwords.
Protect your confidentiality and change all of the passwords to your personal accounts, including cell phone, email, computer, social media, and iCloud accounts. Make sure you select a password that your spouse cannot guess.
4. Inventory Household Items.
You might need to be sneaky about this and do this when your spouse is not in the home. Use your phone to record a video of the contents in your home. Slowly walk through each room and describe the items as you record. Don’t forget about the items in your home safe.
5. Protect and Access Credit.
You must check your credit report before you begin the divorce process. It’s imperative that you know what debts exist and what your credit report looks like so that you can properly plan your financial future. If possible, you may want to open a new credit card solely in your name so that you can have access to emergency funds.

Your attorney should be able to advise you on any other issues or questions you might have. You’ll want to discuss everything with your legal team before you file.

Free Divorce Consultation in Los Angles

Divorce proceedings are not always simple and straightforward, especially when children are involved. In many cases, the consequences of a divorce can affect a person for the rest of his or her life, possibly resulting in a significant loss of financial support or reduced child visitation rights. A qualified divorce attorney however, can help you navigate the complex intricacies of family law and can negotiate the best settlement on your behalf. For more information about California divorce law and the divorce process, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for a risk-free initial consultation. Our main goal as divorce attorneys is to help you evaluate your options under California law and make informed decisions that protect your interests and legal rights. Don’t wait to get help, call our Los Angeles legal team today at (213) 550-4600.

Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles

5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: (213) 550-4600

Web: https://divorcelawyerslosangeles.com

As we get closer to the holiday season, it can be harder to determine a co-parenting schedule. One of the first holidays you will need to plan for is Halloween. This can be an especially hard holiday because it is really only one night. Other holidays can be divided up. For example – one parent can take Christmas Eve while one parent takes Christmas day. Since Halloween is one night, you’ll need to figure out a way

One way that some parents manage it is to switch off every year. Some parents split up the day. For example, if there are events at school, one parent will attend, while the other parent takes over the night “duty.” Regardless of the final decision, the most important part is to realize that the day should be about your child.

Challenges with Co-Parenting

Even for the most amicable of spouses, co-parenting can prevent numerous challenges. From differing parenting styles to figuring out scheduling, there are so many obstacles that come with just being a parent, let alone a parent that must make it work with an ex-partner.

Absent abuse, neglect, or other extreme circumstance, it is important that children have a relationship with both parents. This can be made difficult if there is a history of betrayals such as adultery or substance abuse precipitating the separation.

Co-Parenting Guidelines

When it comes to co-parenting, both parents must commit to keeping the child’s best interest at the forefront of all their decisions. A difficult situation can be made easier by adhering to the following guidelines:

 Value the co-parenting relationship and recognize how important it is in the lives of the children;

Maintain a shared focus on the children’s emotional well-being and demonstrate flexibility—perhaps even warm affection—towards one another;

Understand that bad-mouthing the other parent or disparaging them in front of the child will do more harm than good;

Appreciate the importance of the children having an attachment to both parents.

By following the above guidelines, you will hopefully be able to craft a loving co-parenting relationship that is based on your child’s best interest.

Additional Co-Parenting Tools

Once you have set an emotional foundation for your co-parenting relationship, it’s important to figure out the day-to-day logistics. As any parent will tell you, a child’s schedule can be one of the hardest to manage. From school, homework, practices, to managing playdates and vacations, children have a lot of things on their schedule. Divorced parents will need to figure out a way to make this work.

Types of Custody

Depending on your custody arrangement, you’ll need to work out a parenting schedule. Before we discuss that, let’s touch on the various types of custody arrangements.

There are two main types of child custody under California law: legal and physical custody.

Legal custody (California Family Code § 3003) can be joint, in which both parents share the right and responsibility to make important decisions about their children’s health, welfare and education, or sole, in which one parent is granted the exclusive responsibility for making these decisions, though the other parent may still have visiting rights. It is the presumption of the court in most divorce proceedings that it is in the best interest of the child to have continuing contact with both parents. However, if the parents are unable to agree on a parenting plan, it is up to the court to decide how they will share time with their children. Parents with legal custody are responsible for making the major decisions or choices about their children’s schooling or child care, residence, religious activities, mental health needs, medical needs, travel and extracurricular activities.

Physical custody (California Family Code § 3004) can also be joint, which means the children live with both parents, or sole, which means the children live with one parent for most of the time and may schedule regular visits with the other parent. California law favors joint legal and physical custody when both parents can agree to it. If they don’t agree, the court will establish a parenting plan that is in the children’s best interests.

How an Experienced Los Angeles Child Custody Attorney Can Help

Children of divorced parents in California have the right to spend time with both parents, provided both parents are able to keep them safe and can care for them in an appropriate manner. However, when determining what is in the best interest of a child in terms of custody, the court is allowed a great deal of discretion and the judge assigned to your case may consider any number of factors in making his or her decision about where your children should live, and which parent has the right to make the most important decisions about your children’s lives.

Our attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles understand that it is often in the best interest of a child for his or her parents to come to an amicable agreement regarding child custody or visitation, as it avoids your family’s future being dictated by a judge who is unfamiliar with your situation and needs, and we can help guide you through this difficult process in a manner that is satisfactory for all parties. However, if you are unable to agree to custody terms with the other parent and your case goes to trial, our attorneys will represent your case with the competence and compassion a sensitive situation like this requires.

Parenting Schedule

A parenting schedule can be one of the best ways to add normalcy to your child’s life. This schedule – either created by court order or through agreement – should be agreed to by both parents, should define each parent’s time with the child, and should be based on keeping your child’s best interests at the forefront.

A schedule will provide necessary structure and predictability, but it’s important to remember that they need to be flexible. Maintaining this flexibility, such as inviting the other parent to participate even when it is not “their time” per the schedule, can promote a sense of togetherness and normalcy to a child. Striking the right balance between rigidity and flexibility can be difficult and you will need to make it work.

This schedule outlines the transitions between the parents—and the parent’s homes. Obviously this will be based on the type of custody arrangement. This schedule should include drop of times and places, all daily events, as well as vacation dates. There are numerous templates you can find online to help you with this. Make the plan formal by writing it into an official parenting plan so that everyone can stick to the schedule and remember its finer details as well. Consider revisiting the plan every once in a while to make sure it continues to meet all of your needs. A family law attorney would be able to help you figure out a plan that works for everyone.

Holiday and Vacation Arrangements

Another aspect of the parenting schedule is holidays and vacation schedules. Here are some common ways parents divide and share holiday time:

• Alternate holidays every other year. Assign holidays to each parent for even years and then swap the holidays in odd years. With this arrangement, neither parent misses spending a holiday with their child more than one year in a row.
• Split the holiday in half. Split the day of the holiday so that the child spends part of the day with each parent. This arrangement requires planning and coordination to avoid traveling all day.
• Schedule a holiday twice. Schedule time for each parent to celebrate a holiday with the child. For example, one parent can celebrate Christmas with the child on Dec. 20th and the other parent on the 25th.
• Assign fixed holidays. With this arrangement, each parent celebrate the same holidays with the child every year. If parents have different holidays that they think are important, each parent can have those holidays every year.

Use any combination of these ways to divide and share holiday and vacation time to create arrangements that allow your child to enjoy family traditions and spend quality time with both parents.

Consider Help with Conflicts

In especially acrimonious separations, creating a co-parenting situation can be even harder. You might consider a parent coordinator, therapist or psychologist or clinical social worker who works with both parents, to help resolve conflicts and encourage more effective communication. By having a third party available to address conflict, parents can feel more empowered to communicate openly and honestly.

Any of the above-mentioned professionals will be able to address disparate parenting styles (which often extend beyond adherence to a schedule) and help co-parents find a balance which will meet their needs and the needs of their children.

Put the Child First

Every co-parenting relationship has its challenges and it can be very difficult working out this new relationship when you are so used to the old relationship you used to share with your ex.

Co-parenting can only be successful when both parents value its importance and make every attempt to manage the challenges the relationship brings with it. By remaining mindful of the above tips, co-parenting can be made easier and lead to happier parents and healthier children.

Free Child Custody Consultation in Los Angeles

Divorce and parental custody rights are extremely important family law matters, and California law requires parents who are unable to reach an amicable custody agreement on their own to attend mediation before going to court, where a judge will determine custody. The main objective of our law firm is to help clients reach fair and fast resolutions to their marriage dissolution and child custody disputes, and we are committed to providing you with the personal attention and qualified representation you deserve, from the moment you enlist our help until the last piece of paperwork is signed. If you are involved in a contentious child custody dispute in California, contact our child custody attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles today at (213) 550-4600 for a free initial consultation. Our legal team has extensive experience protecting the rights of California parents filing for divorce, and will provide you with knowledgeable, compassionate representation in all aspects of your child custody matter.

Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles

5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: (213) 550-4600

Web: https://divorcelawyerslosangeles.com

Mandy Moore is opening up about her divorce – and her upcoming nuptials.

No Regrets for Mandy Moore

When Mandy Moore, 34, split from singer Ryan Adams in January 2015, they did it amicably, releasing a statement through their rep: “It is a respectful, amicable parting of ways and both Mandy and Ryan are asking for media to respect their privacy at this time.”

Moore, who stars on television show This Is Us, is now opening up a little bit more about their 6-year relationship.

When her and Adams tied the knot in 2009, Moore’s family was going through a tumultuous time. Moore had just recently learned that her mother was leaving her father for a woman.

“I couldn’t control what happened to my immediate family, but I could control starting my own,” she says of her decision to marry Adams. “Not the smartest decision. I didn’t choose the right person.”

 “I don’t feel guilty for it. I don’t fault myself for it,” she says of her divorce. “When people said, ‘I’m sorry,’ I was like, ‘No. Sorry would have been had I stayed in a very unhealthy situation.’ I didn’t. I found my way out. And when I did, things opened back up again.”

No doubt that her honesty and ability to deal head-on with her divorce has aided her in moving forward. She is now engaged to musician Taylor Goldsmith.

 “I was still dealing with the trauma of my divorce when we started dating,” she says. “Taylor was steadfast in his support—that was a huge sign for me.”

“He makes me melt. I can imagine no better partner,” she continues. “He’s going to be the most tremendous father… Maybe it’s true [about the biological clock], but f**k that narrative,” she says, before revealing their desire to adopt. “So that will be a part of our lives, God willing.”

Rather than living with any regret, Moore is focused on what is good in her life and where her past has led her.

“I view the past as a stepping-stone to get me where I am today,” she says. “I would gladly weather all of that a million times over if it brought me to Taylor again.”

What Divorce Means for You

According to statistics, nearly 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce, or a dissolution of marriage, and whether your divorce is uncontested or contested – meaning you and your spouse disagree on one or more issues – it’s important to fight for what is rightfully yours once the marriage ends. A failed marriage can be emotionally and financially draining and taking the right steps at the start of a divorce can help you protect your own interests, your children and your finances. Divorces are always easier to get through when both parties make a good faith effort to work together to reach an amicable solution to any potential disagreements, but, sadly, this is rarely the case in today’s divorce proceedings. Because of this fact, hiring an attorney with experience handling California divorce cases should be your first step when considering divorce or after you have been served divorce papers.
Our legal team at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles understands that not all marriages work out and that, regardless of the reason for the divorce, it is a difficult situation for both parties, deserving of compassion, honesty and personal attention, especially when the divorce is contested. The most highly-contested issues that may arise in California divorce cases include:

Marital Property Division – California is a community property state, which means that the debts and assets a couple acquires in marriage belong to both spouses equally and must therefore be divided equally in divorce. However, this does not include either spouse’s separate property, which may include gifts, inheritances or property that the spouse owned prior to the marriage.
High Net-Worth Divorce – Divorce proceedings become considerably more complicated when substantial property and assets are involved. This may include investment accounts, ownership rights to a business, or multiple pieces of real estate.
Spousal Support – Because California is a no-fault divorce state (described in detail below), proof of misconduct has no bearing on the judge’s decision to grant the divorce, but it can be relevant to the calculation of spousal support.
Child Support – Like all states, California requires parents to continue to support their children, even after divorce. Under California law, both parents have an equal duty to provide for their child until he or she reaches 19 years of age, and each parent is expected to contribute according to his or her ability.
Child Custody and Visitation – The presumption in most divorce cases is that it is in the best interest of the child to have continuing contact with both parents following a divorce. However, if the parents can’t agree on a parenting plan, the court will decide how they will share time with their children. If one parent is granted sole legal custody of a child in divorce proceedings, that parent holds the exclusive responsibility for making decisions related to the child’s education, health and welfare, though visitation rights may be granted to the other parent.

If you disagree on how your marital assets or debts should be divided, or if you aren’t happy with your child custody and visitation arrangements, an experienced Los Angeles divorce lawyer can provide a fast and fair resolution to these important legal issues.

How to File for Divorce in California

California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either party in a marriage has the right to file for divorce for no other reason than “irreconcilable differences,” and property settlements in CA divorce cases are not influenced by the behavior of either spouse, although child custody and visitation rights can be. Under California Family Code § 2320, in order for a judge to grant a divorce in California, one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for six months, and in most cases, the individual seeking divorce must file in his or her county of residence, where he or she must have lived for at least three months. Once the divorce papers have been filed, California law dictates that the filing party must wait at least six months from the date the other spouse received the paperwork before the divorce can be finalized.
Steps to Filing Divorce
The first step in filing a divorce is to contact a skilled divorce lawyer that can walk you through the steps of the process. There are 10 basic steps in every divorce:

• Preparing to file
•  Filing
• Serving Divorce Papers
• Responding to the Divorce
• Temporary Orders
• Financial Disclosures
• Discovery
• Settlement
• Trial
• Post-Judgment Issues

Not all divorce cases in California go to court. In some cases, couples can resolve their divorce disputes through negotiation or mediation, during which an attorney can make sure your best interests are being represented. Too often, couples filing for divorce believe they can handle the proceedings on their own and end up making a bigger mess of their situation than they started with. While we do encourage spouses filing for divorce to reach an agreement outside of court and try to avoid divorce litigation altogether, especially when children are involved, our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorneys can assist with every aspect of the divorce process and will aggressively represent your case before a judge if it comes to that. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, we still stand by your side and ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the process.

Preparing to File

It’s always a good idea plan for your divorce. Once you have decided to follow through, you’ll want to work with a divorce lawyer. Your legal team should help you prepare to file. Here are some steps we recommend you take before filing:
1. Copy All Important Documents.
Divorce requires a lot of paperwork. You’ll want to locate and make copies of all documents related to your assets, debts, income, and expenses: tax returns, bank account statements, retirement account statements, life insurance policies, mortgage statements, auto insurance policies, credit card statements, and paycheck stubs. Create digital copies of these documents and upload them to the cloud using a new random password-protected file. In addition to financial documents, you may want to consider copying family photographs, home videos, and other sentimental items.
2. Remove Personal Items.
Gather up your Social Security Card, medical insurance information, birth certificate, passport, and other personal documents and place them in a safe place. So many times families mix these documents up – they get shuffled into random areas and mixed in with other things. Make sure you have everything located.
3. Change Passwords.
Protect your confidentiality and change all of the passwords to your personal accounts, including cell phone, email, computer, social media, and iCloud accounts. Make sure you select a password that your spouse cannot guess.
4. Inventory Household Items.
You might need to be sneaky about this and do this when your spouse is not in the home. Use your phone to record a video of the contents in your home. Slowly walk through each room and describe the items as you record. Don’t forget about the items in your home safe.
5. Protect and Access Credit.
You must check your credit report before you begin the divorce process. It’s imperative that you know what debts exist and what your credit report looks like so that you can properly plan your financial future. If possible, you may want to open a new credit card solely in your name so that you can have access to emergency funds.

Your attorney should be able to advise you on any other issues or questions you might have. You’ll want to discuss everything with your legal team before you file.

Free Divorce Consultation in Los Angles

Divorce proceedings are not always simple and straightforward, especially when children are involved. In many cases, the consequences of a divorce can affect a person for the rest of his or her life, possibly resulting in a significant loss of financial support or reduced child visitation rights. A qualified divorce attorney however, can help you navigate the complex intricacies of family law and can negotiate the best settlement on your behalf. For more information about California divorce law and the divorce process, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for a risk-free initial consultation. Our main goal as divorce attorneys is to help you evaluate your options under California law and make informed decisions that protect your interests and legal rights. Don’t wait to get help, call our Los Angeles legal team today at (213) 550-4600.

Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles

5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: (213) 550-4600

Web: https://divorcelawyerslosangeles.com

For many families, the family dog or cat is more than just a dog or cat, he or she is a member of the family. But what happens when you or your spouse decide to divorce? What happens to Rover? According to a new law, divorce in California might just be going to the dogs.

What Happens to the Family Dog During Divorce?

While the division of marital property is never easy during a divorce, it’s something that is manageable. There are rules governing how property is divided. California is a community property state, which means that each spouse is legally entitled to half of the marital estate in divorce, which includes both assets and liabilities classified as community property, or property acquired by the couple during the course of their marriage.

In every state except for Alaska and Illinois, the family pet is classified as property – just like the living room couch or the kitchen oven. What that means is the dog can be sold, just like any other piece of furniture, between the divorcing spouses. If you are a pet owner, you most likely take issue with this.

According to a new law that goes into effect in January, this view might be changing.

California Divorce is Going to the Dogs

Marital Assets and Debts Besides the Dog

When you get a divorce in California, you and your spouse will be required to make an exhaustive list of your property, assets and debts, both community and separate. “Community property” means all assets purchased or acquired by a couple during the course of their marriage are owned equally by both of them. This is the case regardless of how the asset is titled – even when it’s the family pet.  “Separate property,” also called “Non-marital property” is any property, real or personal, that was acquired before marriage, after divorce (or in some states by separation of the spouses before divorce), by gift or inheritance during the course of the marriage, or during marriage with separate property funds.

In order to fairly divide what is considered by law to be your marital property, you and your spouse must be honest and forthcoming about disclosing your accumulated assets and debts. Any attempt to hide income or failure to disclose assets may result in serious legal consequences and will only further complicate the divorce and property division process. As you are preparing for the divorce process, it may help to create a preliminary list of your property and assets, so you are fully prepared when asked to present the final valuation of your marital property.

Under California’s community property law, in the absence of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, you and your spouse will be entitled to exactly one half of what is determined to be your community or marital property. Some marital assets will be fairly easy to divide. For instance, if you and your spouse own two vehicles, each spouse may be awarded one of the vehicles, though there may be some contention here if one of the vehicles is worth a great deal more than the other. In cases such as this, the couple may agree to sell one or both vehicles and split the proceeds evenly. There are many ways in which a divorcing couple can make the divorce process easier and far less messy and contentious, the most important being their ability to agree to the equal distribution of these assets on their own or with the help of an attorney, without going to court.

Handling Property Division Disputes in LA

Unfortunately, there are many types of marital property that are not so easy to divide right down the middle. For instance, the family pet, as we’ve discussed, in addition to the family home, accrued employee retirement benefits, valuable items you received as gifts for your marriage, and family businesses are some examples of community property that is not easily split up. You may both want to keep the family home, or your spouse may want to sell the property and split the profit. There are provisions in place in California’s divorce code that lay out how splitting up community property that cannot be divided equally should be handled. For example, if your spouse is awarded the family home, California law stipulates that you must receive property that is equal in value to the home. It is in these types of situations that having a knowledgeable Los Angeles divorce attorney on your side is imperative.

Prioritizing Your Marital Property and Assets

The most important thing to do when preparing for a divorce in Los Angeles is taking the time to prioritize your assets so you know what property you own, what you’re willing to give up and what is most important to you to keep. This can help make what would otherwise be an overwhelming and complicated process simpler, more streamlined and less contentious. And even though you and your spouse are preparing to separate, it is still important to be open and honest about your expectations during this process, including what property you absolutely want to walk away with when the divorce is finalized. If you and your spouse are unable to communicate effectively without making matters worse, you may want to consider using a third-party mediator or a collaborative divorce process to settle your divorce.

Couples in Los Angeles who can’t agree on how their property (including the family pet) and debts should be divided in divorce will likely end up going to court, where a judge will make the decision for them. Although our attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles typically advise couples to attempt to work with one another to reach an amicable solution to their property division issues, we are always prepared to go to trial on behalf of our clients and represent their best interests before the court. Our lawyers have extensive experience representing clients in all areas of family law, and we can help ensure that your marital property is divided fairly. Furthermore, we can ensure that any separate property or assets you owned prior to the marriage remains under your control after the divorce. Whether you handle your own property division and assignment, or a court makes the decisions for you, there are three important steps to the process:

• Determining whether the property (assets and debts) is marital or separate;
• Agreeing on the value of the marital property; and
• Deciding how to evenly divide the marital property.

Free Property Division Consultation in Los Angeles

For many Los Angeles couples, getting divorced is a chance to be freed from an unhappy or abusive marriage, but having your marital assets divided 50-50 under California’s community property laws may not afford you the financial freedom you expected. For more information about filing for divorce in Los Angeles and how marital property division works, contact the experienced family law attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles. With our legal team on your side, you can safeguard your financial freedom and ensure that your marital assets are divided fairly and equitably. Contact us today at (213) 550-4600 for a free initial consultation.

Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles

5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: (213) 550-4600

Web: https://divorcelawyerslosangeles.com

After famously “uncoupling” from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow has remarried television producer Brad Falchuk.

Gwyneth Paltrow “Re-Couples” with Brad Falchuk

Gwyneth Paltrow is a true lesson in moving on after divorce. After 11 years of marriage, her and Chris Martin split in 2014. The two share two children.

Just this past weekend, Paltrow, 46, and television producer and co-creator of “Glee” wed in a secret but star-studded wedding. Paltrow announced the couple’s engagement in her magazine, Goop, in January, saying, “Personally, at midlife, I have tried to accept how complex romantic love can be,” she said of their relationship. “I have decided to give it a go again, not only because I believe I have found the man I was meant to be with, but because I have accepted the soul-stretching, pattern-breaking opportunities that (terrifyingly) are made possible by intimacy.”

Moving Forward After Divorce

Divorce is hard on all fronts. If you’re going through divorce, have gone through divorce, or are about to file, you need to do things that will allow you to move on. These things very well might feel impossible on most days. Take each day at a time. Give yourself some grace. And take a look at our tips for keeping your head up.

Divorce will change your life in more ways than one. Regardless of how strong you are, divorce is challenging – in ways you never even expected. As you face a range of emotions – from anger to relief, to confusion and humiliation, depression, and fear, you need to remember one thing: you WILL get through this.

Some Tips to Help You Move On

• Focusing on what you don’t have and what you can’t do will drive you insane. Focus on what you have control over and let the rest pass on by.
• Forgive yourself.
• Find ways to treat yourself.
• Celebrate the victories.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This can be so difficult. Learn to set your pride aside and ask for help when you need it.
• Journal and record your thoughts and feelings from day to day. When you’re able to look and read back where you were, you’re able to see what progress you’ve made.
• Go for walks.
• Don’t be afraid to consult a therapist.
• Learn patience.
• Focus on your children and their happiness.
• Be proactive in your moving forward process and do everything you can to stay on track. This means working out, eating well, getting enough sleep.
• Take yourself out on dates.
• Remind yourself of what really matters.
• Take up a new hobby – maybe there’s something you’ve always wanted to try but were never able to.
• Find a support group.
• Know that you will feel lonely sometimes. Find new and fun ways to deal with those feelings.
• Search for inspiration.
• Stay involved in the things that make you feel good.
• Find something new that makes you feel good.
• When you feel like you can’t go on any further, dig deep. You never know how strong you are until you hit that bottom.
• Remember that you are not alone.

Hiring an Attorney

Going through a divorce can be one of the most difficult, stressful and emotionally draining experiences in a person’s life, and hiring an attorney early in the process can help avoid the mistakes that inevitably occur when parties seeking divorce represent themselves in court. The legal system can be confusing for anyone without an extensive legal background and family law cases, in particular, can become complicated and messy when not dealt with properly. Our attorneys at Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles have the experience and resources necessary to handle high-asset divorces in L.A. and the surrounding areas, and the competence to resolve critical disputes, including those that involve marital property division and child custody and visitation arrangements. Whether your California divorce case requires aggressive negotiation, mediation or representation at trial, hiring a knowledgeable attorney to represent your case can help ease any concerns you may have about the outcome of your case and may even help resolve your case more quickly.

How to File for Divorce in California

California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either party in a marriage has the right to file for divorce for no other reason than “irreconcilable differences,” and property settlements in CA divorce cases are not influenced by the behavior of either spouse, although child custody and visitation rights can be. Under California Family Code § 2320, in order for a judge to grant a divorce in California, one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for six months, and in most cases, the individual seeking divorce must file in his or her county of residence, where he or she must have lived for at least three months. Once the divorce papers have been filed, California law dictates that the filing party must wait at least six months from the date the other spouse received the paperwork before the divorce can be finalized.

The Divorce Process

The steps you need to take to file your divorce will depend on the particulars of your situation and circumstances. A divorce where the parties have been married for a relatively short period of time, have no children, and little property or debts is typically less involved than a divorce where the parties have been married for a long period of time, where there are minor children, or where there is significant property or debt to divide.

The divorce process is also made simpler in cases where both parties want to and agree to divorce. In cases where one party wants a divorce and the other does not, the opposing party might choose to prolong the process as much as possible.

If both parties are able to agree to the terms of the divorce, the process will be smoother as opposed to one where both parties are constantly disagreeing and fighting over the terms.

Filing a petition

The first step in the divorce process is filing a petition. Even when both parties agree to divorce, one of them will need to file a petition that states the grounds for the divorce. The grounds for divorce vary depending on the jurisdiction. All jurisdictions allow for some type of no-fault grounds such as “irreconcilable differences”, but only a few states still consider fault grounds for divorce, such as adultery or abandonment. California is a no-fault state so the grounds will be “irreconcilable differences.”

Temporary Orders

Next, temporary orders will need to be put in place. These orders are for spousal and/or child support and custody. A temporary order is usually granted within a few days and remains in effect until a full court hearing.

Service of Process

The party that files the divorce also needs to file proof of service of process. This is a document that shows a copy of the divorce petition was given to the other party. If you are working with an attorney, he or she will be able to arrange this.

Response

The party who receives service of process then needs to file a response to the petition. The responding party may choose to assert a defense to the grounds. If there is disagreement as to property division, support, custody, or any other issue, this should be set out in the response.

Negotiation

If the parties don’t agree on all the issues such as child custody or spousal support, they will need to try to negotiate their differences. A court may schedule settlement conferences in an attempt to have the parties resolve their issues. If the parties disagree on child custody and visitation, the court may also choose to order mediation, evaluation of the children and parents by a social worker or other court employee and that a lawyer or guardian ad litem be appointed to represent the children. Other issues that may need to be negotiated are the property division and any spousal support.

Trial

Any issues the parties cannot resolve between themselves will be decided at a trial. However, going to trial takes longer, costs more money, and may have less predictable results.

Order of Dissolution

The order of dissolution ends the marriage and spells out how property and debts are to be divided, child custody, support and any other issues. When the parties negotiate their own resolution to all of the issues, they draft the order of dissolution and submit it to the court. If the order of dissolution complies with legal requirements and both parties entered into it knowingly and willingly, then a judge approves it. Otherwise the court will issue an Order of Dissolution at the end of the trial.

How an Experienced Divorce Lawyer Can Help

Not all divorce cases in California go to court. In some cases, couples can resolve their divorce disputes through negotiation or mediation, during which an attorney can make sure your best interests are being represented. Too often, couples filing for divorce believe they can handle the proceedings on their own and end up making a bigger mess of their situation than they started with. While we do encourage spouses filing for divorce to reach an agreement outside of court and try to avoid divorce litigation altogether, especially when children are involved, our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorneys can assist with every aspect of the divorce process and will aggressively represent your case before a judge if it comes to that. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your case, we still stand by your side and ensure that your legal rights are protected throughout the process.

Free Divorce Consultation in Los Angles

Divorce proceedings are not always simple and straightforward, especially when children are involved. In many cases, the consequences of a divorce can affect a person for the rest of his or her life, possibly resulting in a significant loss of financial support or reduced child visitation rights. A qualified divorce attorney however, can help you navigate the complex intricacies of family law and can negotiate the best settlement on your behalf. For more information about California divorce law and the divorce process, contact Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles for a risk-free initial consultation. Our main goal as divorce attorneys is to help you evaluate your options under California law and make informed decisions that protect your interests and legal rights. Don’t wait to get help, call our Los Angeles legal team today at (213) 550-4600.

Divorce Lawyers Los Angeles

5455 Wilshire Blvd
21st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: (213) 550-4600

Web: https://divorcelawyerslosangeles.com