Linda D. States – Sacramento Divorce Lawyer Hope is an important component in determining whether a California marriage is going to last. This was one of the findings of a study conducted by the University of Washington in 1992. It found that participants who were disillusioned or disappointed about their marriages were likely to be divorced within three years of the study taking place. Couples therapists have also noted that those who are disillusioned with their relationships are [...]

Divorces require people to rethink their futures and make important and sometimes long-term financial decisions. A person going through a divorce in California can expect the process to alter his or her household income and expenses. An honest assessment of the financial situation and careful planning could help a person overcome setbacks.The development of a post-divorce budget is an essential first step. This process allows people to see exactly what their monthly bills for housing, food, transportation, insurance and utilities will be. Divorcees might need [...]

Going through a divorce can have a detrimental effect on one’s finances. California residents who get a divorce are likely to need to divide their assets in half, support two households instead one for a period of time and still have to pay costly fees to their attorney. As a result, these individuals may find that they don’t have enough financial assets to see them through retirement.According to a study conducted by the Center for Retirement Research, households that have been through a divorce have [...]

Female breadwinners in California are finding that spousal support may be their new reality when the dust settles from their divorce. According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers survey, 45 percent of lawyers had seen an increase in female breadwinners being held responsible for alimony over the past three years. An estimated 54 percent of lawyers saw an increase in mothers who were responsible for child support.Where in the past it might have been the man responsible for paying spousal maintenance and child support, [...]

Concerns of California parents about paying for their children’s college education may grow if they get a divorce. Amid worries about child and spousal support, college savings might slip down the priority list, but with colleges costing an average of more than $20,000 per year for a state school and over twice that for a private school, it is likely that help will be needed.Both children and parents might need to revise their plans. For example, a child may want to consider attending a state [...]

Taking steps to prepare financially for divorce even before it is underway may help some people in California through the process. For people who do not have an income or manage the family finances, some steps may be critical such as applying for an individual line of credit. This is something a person who has always shared joint accounts with a spouse may want to do before leaving the marriage.People might also want to gather all financial documents and make copies of them. Later, if [...]

When survivors of domestic abuse in California make the decision to divorce, child custody can be a particular concern. Because child custody rulings can essentially mandate ongoing communication between parents, it can also provide an opportunity for abusers to continue manipulative and violent behavior against their family members. Some experts have indicated that many domestic abusers attempt to seek control of the situation by seeking child custody. These experts use the term “coercive control,” which can include tactics such as emotional abuse, abuse of the [...]

There are multiple mistakes that California residents can make when dividing their 401(k) assets during a divorce. Unfortunately, oversights can result in high tax bills, excessive penalties and an unfair division of funds. To avoid making such mistakes, it is important that spouses are aware that the various types of retirement accounts are governed by different rules. Workplace retirement plans, which include conventional pensions and 401(k) accounts, can only be divided through qualified domestic relations orders. Without a QDRO, an ex-spouse would not be able [...]