Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our team has extensive experience in helping the LGBTQ community with family law matters. Dealing with a divorce, along with the many other aspects that come with it is never a straightforward process, as there are many matters that may be contentious, making it difficult to come to an agreement.

Yes, in mediation, the goal is for the neutral third party to help the disputing parties reach a resolution that is mutually beneficial. Mediation is a preferred alternative to divorce, as it does not involve the same delays, expenses, or potential friction in the end.

Unless agreed on otherwise, spousal support will normally end when the ex-spouse remarries.

We handle a wide range of family lawyer matters, including:

• Divorce
• Child custody and visitation
• Child support
• Spousal support
• Property division
• Mediation
• Modifications
• Legal separation
• LGBTQ divorces (same-sex marriages)
• And more

With over 70 years of combined experience, our team is highly skilled in representing high net worth clients ranging from, such as celebrities, to professional athletes, to entrepreneurs, to executives, and many other high-earning occupations.

In a divorce, property division is one of the most contentious aspects that couples may experience. This is especially true for high-asset or complex cases. Therefore, property division is often a very complex matter that requires a highly skilled and experienced property division attorney.

Quasi-community property is property owned or acquired in another state prior to moving to California. Quasi-community property is typically treated the same way as community property.

Separate property is property that is not divided in the divorce. Separate property includes:

• Assets acquired before marriage
• Assets received throughout the marriage as a gift or inheritance
• Assets obtained after separation or after the finalized divorce

There are three important steps in determining property division:

1. Determine whether an asset or debt is community property or separate property
2. Determine the values of community assets and debts
3. Divide community assets and debts between the parties

Yes, California is a community property state. This means in a divorce settlement, the goal is to divide marital property in half, which includes assets and debts acquired during marriage.

In California, a legal separation is an alternative to a divorce. The main difference between the two is that when you are legally separated, you are still technically married, so you cannot marry anyone else.

There are many reasons that couples may choose legal separation over divorce, including:

• Your religious beliefs prohibit divorce
• Your personal beliefs or views rule out divorce
• You want to retain certain benefits (healthcare benefits, tax benefits, etc.) that would otherwise be terminated through a divorce
• You have not met the residency requirements to file a divorce but want to start court proceedings

Property division and child custody and visitation tend to be the most contentious aspects of a divorce.

Yes our team is highly experienced in handling Jewish divorce issues.

A Get is a religious divorce under Jewish law

Generally, mediation is done quicker than litigation. However, it ultimately depends on the complexity of the case and the willingness of the two parties coming to an agreement.

No, information from mediation generally cannot be used in court.

There are many great benefits of mediation, including:

• It is handled in a confidential and comfortable environment
• It is often more efficient and less costly than litigation
• It is mutually beneficial, as the result is something both parties have agreed to, rather than something imposed by judge against at least one of the parties’ wills
• It can result in a more harmonious outcome in the end, which benefits both parties
• It is generally faster than litigation

Mediation may be a preferred alternative to litigation for celebrities, as the information disclosed in mediation generally cannot be used in court. Therefore, it is often much more private than litigation. It also allows the parties to participate in open and candid discussions, which can increase the likelihood of a successful outcome for both parties.

Mediation is a process involving a neutral third party who assists the two disputing parties to reach a resolution to their conflict. Mediation has become a preferable alternative to litigation, as it is less adversarial, more private, potentially less expensive than litigation, and often promotive of cooperation between the parties after the divorce or dispute.

If a marriage lasts less than 10 years, the general rule is that spousal support will last half the length of marriage.

If a marriage lasts longer than 10 years, then the marriage is considered to be of “long duration,” which means that the court may not set a definite termination date for spousal support. However, this does not necessarily mean that the spouse receiving support will get a lifetime of support. However, this does not necessarily mean that a spouse receiving spousal support after a long-term marriage will continue to receive spousal support for the rest of their life.

The amount of “temporary” spousal support (i.e., spousal support pending the divorce decree) that is paid is often determined by a mathematical formula based largely on each party’s income. However, there is no formula for determining “permanent” spousal support (i.e., spousal support ordered in the divorce decree). Instead, the amount of permanent spousal support is based on several statutory factors, including:

• The length of the marriage
• The paying spouse’s ability to pay spousal support
• The needs of each spouse based on the standard of living during the marriage
• Each spouse’s earning capacity
• Each spouse’s age and health
• Evidence of domestic violence
• And more

Child support in California is based on mandatory statewide guidelines that involve a complex calculation that takes into account the number of children, how much time each parent spends with the children, each parent’s income, and other factors. Therefore, there is no concrete answer in determining child support until these factors are accurately determined and have been presented to the court.

Most times, mediation is more cost-effective than court, as it is faster, more direct, and doesn't involve the delays of court hearings. Most people prefer mediation as it is confidential and handled in a more comfortable setting and is more likely to result in a harmonious outcome in the end, which benefits both parties.

If a divorce is contested and cannot be settled outside of court or through mediation, then it will go through litigation in court. However, the ideal situation is to settle outside of court as it can be a drawn-out process that is extremely costly.