How is Divorce Depicted in The Media?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Law

Divorce in the media is viewed as a norm due to all of the divorces publicized. Celebrities are constantly undergoing highly contested divorces and are under the media spot light. Divorce does not seem to be viewed as the same taboo matter that families are ashamed to discuss or be a part of. It is important that the public keep in mind that celebrities are regular people who are not perfect. The celebrities who are getting divorced that are in the lime light does not validate divorce.

It is important to understand that all relationships are different. Although divorce seems to be on the rise it is important to realize that their are alternatives to divorce. Mediation is a common alternative to conflict resolution and marriage disputes. Please make sure you research your options and are fully aware of the benefits and consequences of any decisions you are contemplating making.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family and Divorce Attorneys of Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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How Much Does Mediation Cost?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Law

When going through a divorce it is important to speak with a legal professional and weigh your options. Divorce can be costly and stressful so it is important to ask questions and to thoroughly understand the process to alleviate that stress that is associated.

Mediation is a voluntary option for dispute resolution. Both parties must agree to attend mediation sessions. Mediation can be less costly than divorce. In a mediation session their is neutral third party conducting the session. The mediator is facilitating the conversation between the parties. It is of the utmost importance that the mediator not take sides and maintain their neutrality.

For further information regarding mediation and more please contact the Orange County Mediation attorneys at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation.

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Falling In and Out of Love

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Law

Falling out of love is difficult. Especially after years of getting used to each other’s presence. However, approximately 50 percent of divorced men and 20 percent of divorced women are ready to remarry when they divorce. Just because a love is lost doesn’t mean there aren’t other loves. There’s even a saying: Every goodbye makes the next hello closer.

Meeting another person you want to spend the rest of your time with is a very fortunate thing. However, statistics indicate that in the U.S., 50 percent of first marriages, 67 percent of second, and 73 percent of their marriage end in divorce. Thus, the more times you wed a person, the higher likelihood the marriage will end. There are numerous reasons why this might be so. People who cannot stand the loneliness that follows divorce tend to jump into a relationship right away and enter another marriage as a “rebound.” As George Santayana puts it, “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” People make the same mistakes in another marriage and react to those mistakes in the same way. This can only lead to the same result, divorce. You may get custom to getting a divorce but this doesn’t make it any cheaper.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Orange County Family Law Offices at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

 

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How to Cope With Divorce?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Law

Divorce is an extremely difficult thing to go through, if you can’t fix it then the best thing to do is move on.  The problem that people have though is actually moving on.  This is a normal emotion, it is hard for people to move on but there are plenty of advice websites and psychiatrist who can help with that and give you steps for the right way of moving on. Here are some steps I found for moving on from a divorce and just trying to survive it.

First off you should allow yourself to grieve the loss of the relationship.  Grieving is a part of the moving on process, if you don’t allow yourself that time then your emotions of being hurt will remain the same.  Secondly, do not isolate yourself, make sure that you reach out to others for support.  If you don’t really have any support then seek out support groups or see a counselor, or just make new friends.  Thirdly, make sure you take care of yourself.  Make time everyday to nurture yourself, pay attention to what you need, stick to what you need, avoid using alcohol, drugs, or food to cope, and explore new interest. Another way to look at a divorce is instead of seeing only the negatives you should try to find some positives, try to look for important life lessons that can be learned from the situation.  The best thing to do is not rush the process and take everything day by day, trying to look into the future will make things too overwhelming.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Divorce and Family Attorneys in Southern California at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Stuck between a divorcing couple?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Law

First and foremost you must tell both sides that you will not be taking a position in either trench. In all likelihood, you will still be talking to both sides to it’s best to be honest and open.

If you absolutely positively must choose sides, then limit your contact with the other side. Common sense dictates theres no point in angrily taunting the side you are not siding with.

You are not an arbiter of what is right or wrong so don’t pretend to be. Both sides will probably have very different views on what actually happened than the other so just be an echo of whoever you’re with and let them bounce ideas off of you.

Don’t use e-mail to talk to either side because print is forever. Whatever you type may find its way into court or worse so its best to speak in person. Furthermore, expect whatever yous ay to one side to get to the other. Secrets don’t stay secret in heated arguments.

Worst case scenario, detach from both and hope that things will cool down soon.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family Law Attorney for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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How to Handle A Divorce When You Have Children

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Law

Kids will most likely start misbehaving when their parents are going through a divorce.  Parents are so concentrated on the divorce that they tend to forget that their children are also going through a tough time.  There are a few key things that you should make sure your child knows while going through a divorce to help them through this time.  The first thing is to let your child know that they are accepted, that they are a main priority because their sense of belonging is now shattered.  Secondly you should always make sure that their schedule stays almost exactly the same, to the best of your ability, they are already going through a big change and it’s always nice to have some stability.  Thirdly, make sure that your children are aware that none of what’s going on is their fault.  Kids tend to blame themselves when it comes to divorce, whether it’s for misbehaving, or not do their chores, kids will find a way to blame themselves.  Lastly, kids need to be kids.  Do not force them to grow up because of yours and your spouses problems.  Children should not be dealing with adult issues.  Divorce is an extremely tough time for everyone involved and these small simple steps could be enough to keep your kids on track in life.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Divorce Lawyers for Southern California at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Is Divorce the Right Choice?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Law

Is it better to stay together for the kids and be unhappy, or is it better to be happy and divorce?  This question does not have a “one size fits all” answer because every couple is different and they handle unhappiness in different ways.  For your kids to be happy they need a happy environment.  If they come home from school and their parents are always fighting then it most likely is not a happy environment, and in that case it’s probably better for the parents to just go their separate ways.  But if the couple can put the fighting aside when the children are around and make it a safe and happy environment then maybe it would be better for those parents to stick it out until their kids are old enough to handle a divorce.  The answer just depends on the individuals who are in this situation but in the end the parents need to do what is best for their children.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family Attorneys in Tustin at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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CA No-Fault Divorce

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Law

In California all divorces are no-fault divorces.  A no-fault divorce is where it doesn’t matter why you are filing for a divorce.  A divorce is a divorce.  In other words you don’t need a reason for filing for divorce.  In California there are only 2 options for filing for a divorce, 1) Irreconcilable differences, or 2) Insanity.  So, it doesn’t matter if your spouse cheated on you or if they just simply don’t want to be together anymore, the courts don’t care what your reason is for filing for a divorce, the results will be the same no matter who was at fault.  The reason will not get you more in the end.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the CA Divorce Lawyers at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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When to Mediate?

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Law

Mediation is voluntary for both sides. This is a method of resolving conflict between two parties. This may be a more affordable approach to conflict resolution. The mediator will assist the two parties in discussing their difference and reaching an amicable agreement.

Mediators are to remain a neutral third parties. The mediator is to remain unbiased and to assist with dialogue among members. Even if the mediator is asked by the parties for their advice on a fair solution the mediator should refrain from telling the parties what they should do.

For further information regarding mediation and more please contact the Affordable Orange County Mediation Attorneys at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Dennis Rodman in Trouble

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Law

On Tuesday, Dennis Rodman, NBA Hall of Famer who played for the Bulls and Lakers was told by an Orange County Court Commissioner that he might go to jail for 20 days for contempt or court unless he pays $830,376 in child and spousal support by May 29.

Rodman’s attorney says that his client is broke and that Rodman’s alcoholism is preventing the former basketball player from getting work. Last year, Rodman reported his income at $570,000 with $3.4 million in property and $1.45 million in bonds and stocks. However, he has also stated his current lifestyle as costing $31,000 a month. Rodman also owes $350,000 in back taxes.

Presently, Rodman has stated he has no job, or a savings or checking account.

For further information regarding legal advice please call the Orange County Attorneys at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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How to Obtain Pet Custody?

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Law

Pet custody has increased about 15% over the last decade.  Before most people split the dog easily and no one really fought for custody but times have changed.  Now a day’s people are considering their pets as one of their kids and would like the law to see them as such also.  As of right now, in California, a pet is considered no more than a piece of furniture, or just personal property.  However, since times are changing, more and more people are trying to receive court orders for custody of the animal.  Since, there are no laws pertaining to pet custody, judges are starting to treat these cases in the same manner as child custody matters, by deciding who the dog is better off with.

The best thing to do is to try and work it out on your own because attorneys are expensive, and many times, in these types of cases, you are paying for advice because there aren’t any laws to where the attorney could actually fight for you.  As of right now there aren’t any laws but I’m guessing sometime in the future there will be.

For further information regarding custody and divorce please contact the Custody Attorneys for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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The Divorce Reform Movement

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Law

The Marriage Movement, also known as the Divorce Reform Movement, started in 1999 in an attempt to decrease the divorce rate. Some of the proposals to reduce marriage included requiring both spouses’ consent for a no-fault divorce, introducing optional “covenant marriage,” and pre-marital counseling requirements.

Throughout the years, the Marriage Movement found numerous findings on the causes of divorce and the effect on children. Researchers have found that the biggest reason for divorce was because people would slowly give up on their marriage and not put enough work into maintaining the marriage.

Psychologists have also discovered that divorce has many negative effects on children such as increase in emotional problems, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol problems, poverty, crime, etc.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family Attorney for Irvine at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free consultation!

If divorce rates continue to increase, the Divorce Reform Movement will act persistently to change the divorce law.

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Divorce Parties Yay or Nay?

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Law

While divorce is usually considered a somber occasion, different cultures and different ex-couples are beginning to view divorce parties or ceremonies as viable ways to move on after a rough split. Some say these ceremonies are excessive but others say they can be just as life-changing as marriage, and healing as well. These kinds of parties may help a couple end the relationship on a positive note.

Divorce ceremonies are sometimes especially celebrated in cultures such as Japan. The party is public and the unhappy couples come together to end their relationship. They treat the event just like a wedding with formal attire and all the decorations included. The marriage is then ended when the couple crushes their wedding rings with a heavy gavel.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Tustin Divorce Lawyer in Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation.

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Seven important questions to ask before a divorce

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Law

1. Do you still have feelings for your spouse?

2. Was your marriage an actual relationship or merely two people living together and having their needs fulfilled?

3. Is it divorce you want, or are you just threatening divorce?

4. Is your decision just an emotional reflex or real self discovery?

5. Why do you want a divorce?

6.What could be the negative consequences of a divorce?

7. What will life after a divorce really be like, financially, emotionally, realistically?

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family Attorneys for Newport Beach at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Why a collaborative divorce?

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Law

In the often rough and tumblr world of family law, negotiating with the other side often seems to step blindly on the face of common sense. Surely, there are too many dead ends, blind turns, and tricks up the enemy’s sleeves to warrant any kind of trust. However, new studies are showing the benefits of a collaborative approach to divorce.

1. Common Interests – Working towards a common goal reduces negative emotions which children are especially sensitive to.

2. Reduce expenses- mediations are often much less expensive than protracted legal battles in court.

3. predictability- In a collaborative divorce, you have much more say in how the settlement will go.

4. Experienced attorneys – attorneys helping in a collaborative divorce or mediation often work with each other frequently and have a common commitment to the collaborative process.

5. Future relationships – A collaborative divorce will improve future relationships between parties which can be especially important for the children.

6. Privacy protected – In a collaboration, information is private during and after the negotiations. In court, documents are open for all, including children in the future, to see.

7. Negotiations more likely – In the friendly atmosphere of a mediation, negotiations are much more likely.

For further information regarding divorce please contact the Family Law Lawyer for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Date(s) of Separation

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Law

Believe it or not, couples undergoing divorce sometimes disagree over their date of separation.

Now, you may be asking 1) how can people not know the date they were separated, and 2) why does the date of separation even matter?

The answer to the first question is that a date of separation is not an objective fact but rather a subjective point in time. The date marks the point when either of the parties does not intend to resume the marriage and his or her actions exhibit the end of the marriage. Sometimes, couples talk about a divorce before proceeding to court and mutually decide on a date of separation.

However, other times only one party in the marriage decides the relationship is over and acts accordingly on his or ehr own. The court must decide whether the status of the relationship at a certain point in time was perceived by both parties to be irreparable.

The answer to the second question is that the date of separation marks the moment in time when the idea of “community property” ends. Since California is a community property state, this means any income earned after the date of separation is separate property. So, if one party happens to win the lottery even one day after the date of separation, the lottery money is legally the possession only of the party that won it. Thus, a difference of even a few days may make a large difference in terms of division of property.

For further information regarding separation and divorce please contact the Orange County Family Attorneys for Irvine at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Your (minor) children should not be your divorce attorneys … and other good advice

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Law

In all seriousness, minor children can be heavily impacted psychologically and emotionally during a divorce. Not only is it important to keep them away from the negativity surrounding a divorce, but here’s also a few helpful bits of advice.

1. Your children are not your therapists (no, really) parents often forget that the personal issues of an adult often do not translate well into the language of a 12 year old, with or without hand motions.

2. Don’t vent your frustrations about your ex-spouse to the kids. common sense? extremely. Keep the “you’ll never guess what mommy/daddy said/did” away from the bedtime stories. fair enough?

 3. Your children are not allowed to serve your ex-spouse with a lawsuit, don’t use them as any other kinds of messenger either.

 4. Talk it out. Your children need to be able to openly communicate with both parents so give them the opportunity to say what’s on their mind. Sometimes the simplest observations can have a profound effect on your relationship with the kids.

 While this isn’t an all encompassing list, it’s a good place to start. Just remember, politeness, compassion, and common sense can go a long way.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Orange County Family Lawyers at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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The Economy and Divorce

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Law

Amidst decreasing home values, a seemingly stagnant unemployment rate, and cuts in government services, couples undergoing divorce must still divide property, and decide over custody of the children. However, the recession has affected how couples view their various assets to be divided in curious ways. Due to plummeting property values, many couples now owe more than their home is actually worth. The normally highly contested “home sweet home” has turned into a “home sour mortgage” making dividing ownership of the property or deciding what to do with it a financial hot potato which neither side wants to be stuck with.

As if dividing real and financial assets wasn’t hard enough, courts, parties, and attorneys now have to deal with dividing negative assets. How is debt fairly distributed much like savings? Often, the simple answer may be that the party who can afford the mortgage keeps the debt and real estate. However, another issue which may affect the outcome of settlements is the issue of support. As one party may lose his or her job, he or she will rely on child or spousal support. However, there often isn’t enough income to spare since the separate households now cost more and make less than they previously did as one.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Orange County Divorce Lawyers at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Child Custody and Divorce Information

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Law

The courts decide who a child is best suited to be with, either their father or their mother.  In most cases the mother is more than likely to receive custody, but dads that does not mean that you should lose hope.  Although it doesn’t happen too often, there are dads who receive full custody of their children.  Just take a look at these celebrity dads who have received full custody of their children after divorce.  After divorcing ex-wife Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson received full custody of all three of his children.  Kevin Federline received legal custody of his children, when Britney Spears went off the deep end, David Hasselhoff received full custody of his two teenage daughters, Tom Cruise has full custody of his adopted children with Nicole Kidman, and Kid Rock received full legal custody of his son.  So dads don’t lose hope because if these celebrity dads can receive full custody of their children, then so can you.

For further information regarding child custody and divorce please contact the Child Custody Lawyers in Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Alimony Myths

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Law

Many people believe that alimony is only for the wife but it really can be for either the husband or the wife.  The law does not discriminate against men, alimony goes strictly by how much money each individual makes.  If the wife makes clearly more than the husband, then the husband can file for alimony.  There are two main reasons why women receive alimony more often than men.  The first reason is obvious, men usually make more money than women.  The second reason though is not so obvious, men have to huge of egos.  They don’t try to receive alimony because the thought of needing their ex-wife to support them is too much to bare.  With the times changing though, and men and women becoming more equal, men are receiving alimony more often now then ever before.

For further information regarding Alimony and more please contact the Alimony Attorneys in Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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What Happens When Child Support Is Not Paid?

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Law

If child support is not paid then there are a number things that can happen to the non-custodial parent in the state of California.  The state of California can withhold their income, suspend their license, denial of obtaining a passport, take their federal or state income tax or lottery winnings, or garnish unemployment benefits, state disability benefits, or workers’ compensation benefits, they can even be sent to jail for up to six months with child support still adding up.  The state does not care if you are unemployed, do not make a lot of money, if you’re not close to your child, etc., although they do take into consideration the income of the parent to decide how much child support will be owed.  The moral of the story is, pay your child support, or else you could be losing a lot more than your money.

For further information regarding child support and divorce please call the Orange County Child Support Attorneys at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation.

Posted in Collecting Support, Community Debt, Community Property, Joint Custody, Partner Support, Physical Custody | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How Alimony Laws are Changing

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Law

In Massachusetts, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Oregon, the alimony laws are changing. Alimony was created when women had no economic power in the past and depended solely on their husbands’ income throughout the marriage. However, this was a time when divorce was scarce and living together was scandalous. The times have changed but many laws have not.

The new Massachusetts alimony law treats alimony like child support. There are guidelines based on the length of the marriage and the income of the parties. Many attorneys are agreeing that the “overhaul” of the law is a positive thing, and that laws need to be overhauled to keep pace with society’s progress.

Legislators are now trying to create new bills that are more considerate of the payers’ right. This is especially important for alimony payers in New Jersey because the alimony laws are extremely out-dated, making payers responsible for payments of the same amount even when they have lost their jobs.

California has its own alimony laws to determine the amount and duration of spousal support.

For further information regarding Alimony and more please contact the Spousal Support Lawyers for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your 60-minute consultation!

 

 

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Tips to a Civil Divorce

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Law

In a society where about 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, we can see many different cases of divorce, both bad and good. How can a divorce be seen as good? There are various ways to carry out the decision to end a marriage, and while some people choose to end the marriage viciously, making every step of the process as difficult to the other partner as possible, there are those wise people who choose to end the marriage civilly.

First of all, don’t be vindictive. We know that you wouldn’t end your marriage if you still loved your partner. However, do not try to take revenge on your partner when you are in the middle of getting a divorce. Judges will frown upon vindictive behavior. Secondly, don’t use your children as messengers. Keep communications with your ex-partner open without involving your children. If talking on the phone is bound to bring up negative emotions, communicate through email. Lastly, protect your children. Negative emotions towards your ex-partner shouldn’t be passed onto your children. Your ex-partner may seem like your enemy, but to your children, he/she is still a loving parent.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Divorce and Family Lawyers for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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How is Custody Decided?

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Law

During a divorce many issues will need to be determined. It is helpful if both parties are in agreement. If the parties are not both in agreement they may need to speak with a legal professional. It is also important to explore other various avenues of conflict resolution.

Custody can be determined in front of a judge and many factors will be taken into consideration. Factors such as age, living situation, and background information will be considered. It is important to keep the child’s best interest in mind throughout a divorce and custody battle.

For further information regarding divorce and more please contact the Family Attorneys for Southern California at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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Using Mediation For Conflict Resolution

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Law

If you are in the middle of a conflict, mediation is often a great alternative. Mediation is voluntary for both parties. It is important to know what mediation involves before deciding to take this approach. Mediation is in a less formal setting than the typical court proceeding involved with a divorce.

The mediator will run the mediation session. The mediators role is to facilitate conversation between the parties. It is not up to the mediator to find solutions for the party. It is important for the mediator to remain a neutral third party.

For further information regarding divorce and mediation please contact the Family Attorneys for Orange County at 714-665-6600. Call today for your free 60-minute consultation!

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