When couples feel financial stress, it increases the odds of divorce. This is part of the reason that losing a job can make it more likely that a marriage will end. Not having an income, or seeing a significant reduction in income, puts financial stress on the couple. Conversely, this may lead people to believe that the very wealthy have low divorce odds. If you and your spouse are millionaires, does that mean that you are less likely to split up because you’re not going to face that type of financial stress? The opposite is true Some studies claim that wealth actually increases the odds of di ..read more

California is a community property state, which means that spouses who are divorcing generally share equal ownership interests in any assets acquired during the marriage. This approach covers both material and immaterial assets, including bonds and stocks owned by more affluent couples. In a high-asset divorce case, the assets that are part of a marital household are typically worth several million dollars or more. Dividing up assets can be challenging if there is no prenuptial agreement. Valuing assets like real estate, stock options, art collections, jewels and corporate interests can compli ..read more

So much depends on money that it is no surprise that it can affect a marriage. And that often the effect is negative and can result in a divorce. Here are some reasons money could lead to a divorce: Spouses hold different attitudes toward money Some people like saving every last cent. Others have much more difficulty doing this as they have a tendency to spend. That can lead to conflict, as one spouse may feel the other's spending jeopardizes their future financial security. The other may feel their spouse’s insistence on scrimping and saving harms the ability to enjoy the present. Spouses do ..read more

Social stigma is still sometimes a deterrent to divorce. While there is much less social concern about divorce now than there was decades ago, people can still face a degree of judgment after the end of a marriage. Particularly when there is reason to claim that misconduct contributed to the end of a marriage, people may worry about the information disclosed to others during California divorce proceedings. Many divorces involve litigation, which means that spouses have to address the end of the marriage in the family courts. Some couples instead undergo mediation and then present a signed agre ..read more

It doesn’t take physical intimacy to have an affair. An emotional affair is a connection between two individuals that goes somewhat beyond the norms of a platonic friendship – creating an “emotional intimacy” that mimics the closeness most people have in their marriages. They can be just as damaging (or maybe more so) than physical affairs due to the depths of the betrayal involved.  How do emotional affairs start? Emotional affairs can start in social groups, support groups, the workplace or online. Your spouse’s “gaming buddy” or “work spouse” can threaten your marriage just as much as ..read more

Most people think custody proceedings only involve deciding where a child resides and at what times. However, there is more to it than that. In litigated custody matters, the court must also define both parents' authority and obligation to make significant decisions about their child’s upbringing, otherwise known as legal custody. California law generally prefers when both parents are involved in a child’s upbringing. As such, regardless of whether you’re negotiating custody or if you’re navigating a contested custody situation, there are high chances you will share legal custody of your child ..read more

In some cases, you can identify life events that increase your odds of divorce. This doesn’t guarantee that divorce will happen, but it does mean that it is more likely for you at that time. This can be helpful because it gives you a chance to plan ahead and get things in order. You may need to gather documentation or consider your legal options. So what are some life events that may mean it’s time to start thinking about the end of your marriage? Losing your job Some studies have found that people who lose their job are more likely to get divorced. This could be due to financial instability ..read more

Under community property laws in California, spouses usually need to divide whatever they accumulated during a marriage if they divorce unless they agree to other arrangements. Regardless of who earned more money or whose name is on the ownership paperwork for assets, both spouses may have an interest in what either spouse earned or acquired during the marriage. Securing a fair portion of the marital estate in a California divorce requires that someone know the full extent of the marital estate. Generally, someone needs to identify what assets belong to the marital estate. They may also need t ..read more

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup as it’s commonly known, is a legal contract that couples sign before getting married. It generally specifies how they will divide their assets, debts and income in case of divorce, although this is certainly not the only reason why these documents are drawn up. If you are contemplating a prenup, you may question its potential effectiveness in protecting your financial interests and avoiding future conflicts in the event of a divorce. Will it really make a difference in the outcome of your divorce settlement? Here is what you need to know. A valid prenup is enf ..read more

Court-issued child custody orders are not designed to last forever. Circumstances change over time, and a custody arrangement initially ordered by the court may eventually no longer suit its intended purpose of serving a child’s best interests. Therefore, you can likely seek a modification of existing child custody orders as a concerned parent if you think that doing so will facilitate your child’s well-being. Here is what you need to know if your co-parent objects to the changes that you believe should be implemented. Establish a material change in circumstances You cannot seek a contested mo ..read more