There are many reasons why a California couple might find themselves in the middle of marital strife. A recent report shows that workplace stress can be one of the reasons that marriage is negatively impacted. Understanding the ways your workplace might impact your relationship with your spouse can help you be proactive about protecting your mental health and preparing for marital struggles. The report’s findings According to a report by a digital mental health company called Headspace, about 71% of respondents listed workplace stress as a factor in struggles in their relationships, with the p ..read more

Divorces are tough, especially when there is a lot of money involved. That is where forensic accountants come in. These financial experts are like detectives who help unravel all the money mysteries in a high-asset divorce. Understanding the role of forensic accountants can help ensure that each spouse gets their fair share of the wealth they have built together. Uncovering hidden assets Forensic accountants leave no financial stone unturned. They comb through bank statements, tax returns and business records to locate any undisclosed assets or income streams. This keen eye for detail prevents ..read more

When divorcing couples sit down to discuss the sensitive issue of property division, their talks are unlikely to be productive if they do not know how much their assets are worth. The most valuable marital asset is usually the primary residence, which is why many divorcing couples choose to have their homes appraised before negotiations begin. Obtaining an appraisal from a professional that both spouses trust is particularly important in states like California where community property laws require marital estates to be divided equally. Full appraisals When a divorcing couple knows how much the ..read more

Co-parenting after a California divorce is not always smooth. Even if you and your former spouse have an amicable relationship, there will be times that you might see things differently. While this might be normal, it is important to avoid putting your child in the middle of these conflicts. How a child ends up in the middle While in some cases, the parents might deliberately do so, such as by fighting in front of their children or speaking harshly about their other parent, in other cases, this might happen accidentally. Some of the ways that might result in the child feeling torn between thei ..read more

California residents who pay or receive spousal support may petition the court to have the arrangements modified in certain situations. Both permanent and temporary spousal support orders can be changed if legal grounds can be established. However, they cannot be if the spouses agree in writing or in open court that the obligation to pay spousal support cannot be revoked or modified. In order to obtain a spousal support modification, the petitioner must convince a family law judge that there has been a substantial and material change in circumstances. Substantial and material Petitions to modi ..read more

There is a range of emotions that couples in California who are contemplating divorce experience. These can include shock, guilt, grief, anger and fear. For many divorcing couples, these emotions start long before the divorce process begins. Shock and guilt Shock can affect individuals in two ways. The person initiating the divorce may experience shock when they realize they want to end their marriage. On the other hand, the other spouse may feel shocked upon hearing their partner’s desire for divorce. Although they may sense issues in the marriage, they might be dedicated to resolving them. T ..read more

Divorce can be a challenging and emotional process, especially when it comes to dividing assets accumulated during a marriage. For many couples, one of the most significant assets is their retirement savings. If you find yourself facing a divorce in California, you should understand how to protect your retirement funds. Understanding community property laws In 2021, 689,308 divorces occurred, and California is just one of the nine community property states. This means that the assets you acquire during the marriage are community property and subject to equal division between you and your spous ..read more

Marital assets take many forms with real estate and financial accounts being prominent examples. However, other assets have value, such as collectibles. Some collectibles, including artwork, could be worth significant sums. Therefore, they could become prominent in settlement negotiations during a gray divorce in California. Gray divorces and issues about collectibles A gray divorce refers to a marriage dissolution between older spouses. While some gray divorces involve marriages that did not involve a union of many years, a gray divorce could center on a couple that remained married for many ..read more

Gray divorce is being seen with greater frequency in California. Researchers believe that the number of gray divorces will grow threefold by 2030. Several factors can lead to a gray divorce, including empty nest syndrome, changes in finances and older individuals accepting the social change regarding how divorce is viewed. Feelings of shame and judgment Many older individuals feel anxiety and shame around divorce. They grew up during a time when there was extreme social pressure against divorce, and even though society around them has changed, they may have internalized some of those feelings ..read more

When parents divorce in California, they have several options on how to approach child custody. One of these options is nesting. Nesting is not the answer for all families. However, some divorced couples make it work, understanding that it is a process that evolves over time. How does nesting work? Nesting involves having a family home where the children live full-time while the parents switch in and out, depending on when they are on parenting duty. Nesting has many benefits, including minimal disruption to the children’s lives and saving parents’ money as they do not have to support two full ..read more