From The blog

“Can Psychiatric Records Be Used In Custody and Visitation Hearings?” Mental health can often be a real issue in custody and visitation cases, with one side accusing the other of having mental problems which affect their ability to parent. The conditions can range from simple things like depression, up through bi-polar disorder and more serious psychological conditions. Since this often devolves...

“How Can Truancy Affect Custody?” All minors are late to school on occasion or miss days. However, this can be a real problem if the minor is missing multiple days, has many tardies, and it begins to affect school performance. In addition, when it reaches the point of getting truancy notices, you have a real problem on your hands. Generally, if there is a serious school attendance problem, the...

“What Documents Should I Gather For My Family Law Case?” For the most part, the documents you are going to need are going to be financial in nature, with a few exceptions. While what you need can vary from case to case, here are some that you should make sure you copy and save. *Bank account statements. You particularly need statements from around the date of marriage and the date of separation....

“Preparing Yourself For Family Law Court” So you’ve got a court date and you’re heading to talk to a family law judge. How should you prepare? What do you need to know? First, some practical details. Know where you are going. Know where the parking is. (Many courthouses are in crowded downtown areas where parking is difficult.) Leave yourself some extra time. Be on time. Second, dress for the...

“Do’s and Don’t’s of Texting in Family Law Cases” Texting is rapidly becoming the most common form of modern communication. It is used extensively in cases where custody and visitation schedules are being discussed, followed, or changed. They often end up in evidence in a contested court hearing. Here are some do’s and don’t’s to keep in mind: DO make sure your communications are polite, despite...

“Homeschool, Independent Studies, and Court Orders” One of the most difficult issues to work through after a separation are disagreements about schooling. Parents can disagree about whether or not to use public school, private school, a charter school, independent study through a county school, or an independent home schooling program. The options have increased greatly in the last 10 years, and...

“What Is A Hardship Deduction?” In child support matters, a term that is often heard is a “hardship deduction.” Many times people think that this is a general reduction of child support due to the fact that they have a lot of debts or bills or a high mortgage. However, none of those things are what is being referenced. A hardship deduction is a deduction to your income for support purposes based...

“How To Pick An Attorney” When choosing an attorney, there are several things that you need to keep in mind to help you find a good fit. It is usually a big decision, and you need to make sure that the business relationship is going to be strong throughout the process. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind: 1. Personality matters. You need to have someone that you get along with, who...

“How Does A Family Law Judge Handle Visitation With A Disabled Child?” In normal custody situations, California courts try to give general schedules, but encourage both parties to use their discretion in making changes. This can be very different with children with disabilities, however. Many times there are medical issues which must be taken care of on schedule, and the court can order a...

“How Do California’s New Marijuana Laws Affect Custody and Visitation?” It used to be, at least in many counties in California, that a positive test for marijuana could mean a change of custody or supervised visitation. California’s changing laws, with first the legalization of medical marijuana, and finally the legalization of recreational marijuana, have caused some major changes. PLEASE BE...