The purpose of this article is to explain the legal consequences and implications of the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) that individuals should be aware of to protect their rights and interests, as well as the Grievance Hearing Process. Understanding CACI and Its Impact on Individuals CACI, which stands for California Child Abuse Central Index, is a comprehensive database maintained by the California Department of Justice that contains the name and identifying information as to individuals who have substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect.  The impact of being listed on the C ..read more

Discover the best strategies for handling Child Protective Services interviews with your child at their school, including legal rights and empowering tips for parents. Can CPS Interview Your Child at His/Her School? It depends. Generally, CPS cannot interview your child at their school.  However, three exceptions apply.   Child Protective Services (CPS) may conduct interviews with your child at their school as part of their investigation process if one of the following exceptions applies: A parent has given CPS consent to interview the child at school. CPS has a obtained a Cour ..read more

The purpose of this article is to explain the legal consequences and implications of the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) that individuals should be aware of to protect their rights and interests, as well as the Grievance Hearing Process. Understanding CACI and its Impact on Individuals CACI, which stands for California Child Abuse Central Index, is a comprehensive database maintained by the California Department of Justice that contains the name and identifying information as to individuals who have substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect.  The impact of being listed on the C ..read more

The goal of this article is so you can better understand your rights and responsibilities and frequently used terminology, when dealing with Child Protective Services in the State of California. The juvenile dependency system in California was set up to protect children from abuse and neglect. Governing United State law dictates that parents have a fundamental right to parent their own children, the way they want to parent them.  However, that fundamental right can be lost, either temporarily or permanently if the child is abused, neglected, or at a significant risk of abuse or neglect. T ..read more

Understanding LGBTQIA+ Divorce Laws in California LGBTQIA+ divorce laws encompass the legal frameworks that govern the dissolution of same-sex marriages and partnerships. These laws can vary from one jurisdiction to another, and it is crucial for individuals going through an LGBTQIA+ divorce to understand the specific regulations that apply to their situation. One important aspect of understanding LGBTQIA+ divorce laws is recognizing that same-sex marriages are legally recognized in many countries and states. This means that LGBTQIA+ couples have the same rights and responsibilities as heteros ..read more

In this post, we’ll explore the complexities of child custody laws for high earners and how they impact custody arrangements.   Challenges Faced by High Earners in Child Custody Cases Child custody cases involving high earners often present unique challenges due to the financial resources and lifestyle of the parents. One of the main challenges is the perception that a high income automatically makes someone a better parent. This can create an unfair bias in the custody decision-making process and make it difficult for the high earner to obtain a favorable outcome. Another challenge is th ..read more

Child support is the amount of money the court orders parents to pay for the basic living expenses of the children. California follows a specific formula or “guideline” to determine the amount of child support to be paid.  California guideline child support is based on a complex equation grounded in two basic factors: The difference between the incomes of the parents. The disparity of time spent caring for the child. Both factors are used in calculating monthly child support, so while the parents may have equal incomes, for example, if one parent is the majority caregiver, the other wil ..read more

Marriage can be a wonderful and blissful union. However, some find the bliss turns into disdain over time and divorce may become an option. As a result, you may find you are completely stressed about losing property, owing debtors and protecting your assets and income as a whole. Most importantly most people are worried about losing their separate property during a divorce. In California, which is a community property state, property acquired during the marriage is generally considered community property and is divided equally during a divorce. However, there are ways to protect separate prope ..read more

Under California Family Code section 3900, both parents have a duty to support their minor children until at least the age of 18. There are times the requirement is extended, such as when a child is disabled. A support obligation may also continue until the age of 19 if the child is still in high school and/or unmarried. The code dictates that minor children must be supported “in the manner suitable to the child’s circumstances.” How to Get a Child Support Order Whether you are the parent seeking support or the one being asked to pay it, if you’re about to start on a child support case ..read more

If you are experiencing harassment or abuse, it may be a good idea to request a restraining order through the Superior Court of California. A restraining order is a court order that protects you by requiring the restrained party to maintain a certain distance from you, preventing the restrained party from owning a firearm, and more, depending on the specific provisions you request. However, there are several different types of restraining orders, and it is important to know the difference so that you can request the orders best suited to your individual situation. Two of the most common ty ..read more