Personal service is an engrained fixture of the American legal tradition. The act of handing someone a court summons and a copy of the plaintiff’s complaint serves (pun intended) a critical Constitutional function.
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In the world of celebrity divorce, the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West drama surrounding the termination of their nuptials is not particularly novel.
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One of the most common questions prospective clients have when meeting with a family law attorney is how infidelity will affect their divorce.
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In order to carry on its operations despite the global pandemic, courts around the county have allowed—and even encouraged—remote appearances. Here in Los Angeles, counsel, parties, and witnesses can appear telephonically or via video to all hearings – even trials and settlement conferences. After nearly a year of making remote appearances, the following are some tips I can share from my experience.
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Many people think that if they if have a bank account with only their name on it, the money in the bank account belongs only to them. People often think, “Well that is my bank account, I earned that money, so of course it is all mine!” However, that is not the case pursuant to California law.
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Misconceptions regarding family law and what happens when you get divorced or file a custody action abound. Often, when reviewing a case with a new client or casually discussing divorce issues, several myths come up repeatedly that should be put to rest.
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Are you new to the state of California? Whether you moved here for a job, for family reasons, or for the adventure, if you have a divorce judgment from another state that includes child custody orders it is a very good idea to register the out-of-state orders in California — because registering the out-of-state custody orders is a necessary step before you can seek enforcement or modification.
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In California, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (“DVPA”) authorizes a trial court to issue a restraining order for the purpose of preventing a recurrence of domestic violence and ensuring a period of separation of the persons involved, upon a showing of proof of a past act or acts of abuse. (Family Code § 6300, et seq.)
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Negotiating premarital agreements is tricky business. On the part of the attorney, it requires extreme patience, delicate emotional considerations, a deep understanding of and practical experience in family law, and even some tough love.
Read MoreIn the 2016 criminal case People v. Sanchez, the California Supreme Court considered the relationship between the hearsay rule and out-of-court statements used as the basis for an expert’s testimony. The expert had never met the defendant and did not have personal knowledge of his past contacts with the police; rather, the expert’s information came from police reports and other collateral sources.
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