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 …
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Child and Spousal Support
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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Social Media & Divorce
By: Stan Sarkisov “The past decade has also seen the advent and ascendency of social media, with websites such as Facebook and Twitter occupying a central place in the lives of so many people.” – NY Supreme Court, ruling that spouses can be served divorce papers via Facebook (Baidoo v. Blood-Dzraku) Your ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ aren’t the only ones paying attention to your social media—so are judges, attorneys, and well, likely your ex and his or her community. During the …
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New Year, New Laws: What You Need to Know About Divorce in 2019
If you’ve been weighing divorce and have decided that 2019 is the year you move to your next chapter, there are a few new laws you should know about before you file. Changes to Spousal Support When sweeping federal tax reform became law in late 2017, it included a big change to the way spousal support would be considered, beginning January 1, 2019. In the past, the spouse providing support would get a tax deduction for the payments, and …
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LFLG Recognized by Super Lawyers for the 6th Year in a Row
Levine Family Law Group is pleased to share that two of our attorneys have been selected for recognition by Super Lawyers* of California. Erin Levine and Ashley Schuh have been selected as a Super Lawyers, 2018! An update on our story: This has been a fabulous year for the Levine Team! We continue to provide unique legal solutions for modern families in the San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve decided to use this post as an opportunity to share some of …
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Divorcing in a Second Language
By: Monica Espinosa Going through divorce is challenging enough, but when English is not your first language the legal jargon, paperwork and process can be even more intimidating – and put you at a real disadvantage. There are linguistic and cultural nuances sometimes lost in translation that can make the difference between winning and losing on an issue. And though many court forms have instructions in other languages, responses and any declarations that the court will read must be in …
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How to Work with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Over the course of the past several months, We’ve had the great fortune to get to know Jennifer Taylor, a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and founder of Square One Financial Services, Inc., based in San Clemente, California. Jennifer’s personal experience going through divorce inspired her to do what she does today: help others receive easy-to-understand financial guidance during their divorce process. Separation of financial assets is one of the most complicated parts of the California divorce process. …
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10 Tips for Writing a Persuasive Family Law Declaration
A declaration is a written statement made under the penalty of perjury. If you are filing a “Request for Order” (or responding to a “Request for Order”) asking that the Judge enter orders providing you some type of temporary “relief”, you will need to attach a declaration explaining the basis for your request and the facts that support it. Examples of Request for Orders (RFOs) include (but are not limited to) requests for: An enforceable parenting plan Modification of an …
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