One thing we know about divorce and its impact on children is that kids CAN and often do thrive after their parents separate when they are shielded from ongoing long-term conflict between their parents. It doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with your spouse (although if you are – we’re here for that). What it means is that by modeling a healthy relationship with yourself and a breakup that isn’t an all out war, you’re teaching your kids …
Continue Reading »
We Want to Help You Avoid These Divorce Financial Mistakes in 2021
If January is the month that you’ve decided to start your divorce, you aren’t alone. January is usually dubbed the “divorce month” since so many people end the year with clarity about whether or not they want to stay in a relationship. If you and/or your spouse have decided to divorce in 2021, review this post to avoid making critical mistakes. These are some examples of the different considerations we think through as we help you navigate divorce. 1. Ignoring …
Continue Reading »
How to Prepare for Online Court
When Coronavirus first triggered ‘shelter in place” orders, most courthouses closed. Like full on shut down. It was like the Wild West out there for anyone trying to seek justice. Within a few days to weeks, we began to see online courts emerge. As we struggle to get Covid-19 under control, many courts are still requiring or, at the very least, allowing, litigants to appear in court via video conference. Getting divorced over a video feed can feel ‘anticlimactic’ for …
Continue Reading »
How to Co-parent During the Coronavirus Pandemic Without Losing Your Mind
But if you lose it here and there, we aren’t going to judge (we’ve all been there!) 5 months and counting. Ahhh, life during a pandemic. The coronavirus has really shaken up the way we live, work, travel, shop, socialize, and educate. Just when we thought we had started to adjust to this new “normal,” something else comes up — like the decision made by many school districts across the country to not open schools for in-person classes this fall. …
Continue Reading »
Levine Team Navigates Important Conversations and Action Around Race and Injustice
For years, we have made access to justice a core value. In 2019, Monica Espinosa, Esq. played a significant role in a pro bono case that ultimately saw a man wrongfully imprisoned for decades be released to his family. In 2018, the Levine Team received congressional recognition for our pro bono volunteer work with the Alameda County Superior Court. And, in 2017, we launched Hello Divorce, an affordable, online platform for consumers navigating divorce. And yet, prior to George Floyd’s death, …
Continue Reading »
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Shelter in Place in CA: What Happens to My Kids and to Child Custody Agreements?
Please note: The information on this post is accurate as of TIME on March 20, 2020. We will try to keep this post as updated as possible as events continue to unfold. But remember, if you have legal questions, it’s always best to get specific legal advice from a lawyer. LFLG is currently offering steeply discounted 30-minute legal consultations at a $99 flat rate, until April 1. Contact us here. California’s statewide shelter in place directive has left many parents …
Continue Reading »
Coronavirus update from Team Levine
Dear Clients, Potential Clients, Former Clients, Colleagues, Supporters and Friends – The health and well-being of our team, our clients, and our community is of great importance to us. We have decided to (primarily) work remotely for the next several weeks. Business operations will continue as normal. Phones will be answered, texts and emails responded to, mail handled and cases will continue to be advanced every bit the same way as if we were all in the office. …
Continue Reading »
Will Coronavirus Impact My Divorce?
Coronavirus is on all of our minds. We’re following CDC guidance; we’re washing our hands, we’re sanitizing the surfaces we touch, stocking up on disinfectant, and hoarding toilet paper. (Why toilet paper? Why??) What you might not be thinking about (yet) is how coronavirus could impact your divorce process. Which is why I’m here with this Q&A about how to prepare yourself if and when the time comes that coronavirus does start to impact your divorce: I’m quarantined due to …
Continue Reading »
Spousal Support A-Z
One of the key issues that arises in a divorce proceeding is spousal support, aka alimony. Spousal support comes in two varieties, temporary spousal support and long-term spousal support. Spousal support is something that has to be requested by one of the parties. If neither party requests it, jurisdiction will be reserved on the issue unless the parties agree to terminate it in the judgment paperwork. By reserved, we mean that court will continue to have the ‘ability’ to award …
Continue Reading »
Highlights From 2019: The Levine Team Wins Big – in and out of the Courtroom
Did last year fly by or what? 2019 was awesome but we are super excited to get working in 2020 and…. get our kids back to school ;-). Seriously though, this year was one of the first that we took some REAL time off over the holidays and we feel rested, inspired, recharged and ready to hit the ground running. 2019 was one of our favorite years in that it was action packed from day 1 and we really got …
Continue Reading »