Family Law

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, …
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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 …
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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. …
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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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I am not on title to our house, is it still joint property?

Disclaimer: Property ownership is a big deal! If you have questions related to a home or rental property, definitely contact a lawyer. But start by reading this post to get a sense for how the law works. Well the long answer is “maybe” (followed by explanation below). The short answer is, probably “yes!” Why can’t lawyers just say “yes” or “no?” Why does everything have to be so complicated? Well, partially because the law is not just made up of …
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Do I Still Need to Hire a Lawyer If We Are Going to Divorce Mediation?

We receive this question a lot: “Do I need a lawyer if I’m mediating my divorce?” The short answer is: YES. You need a lawyer to help you understand your legal exposure – i.e. your best and worst case scenarios for property, debt, reimbursements, child custody, financial support etc. BUT, depending on the complexity of your case, sometimes only 1-3 hours with a seasoned attorney is all you need. Other people choose to “retain” a lawyer to either (a) join …
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When it Comes to Co-Parenting, This Tool Keeps Things Fayr

It’s not a misspelling. It’s actually a meaningful acronym: Family Advocacy is Your Responsibility, or Fayr, a new(ish) co-parenting app that has quickly become my favorite to recommend – and it will be yours soon, too, if you’re looking for a thoughtfully designed co-parenting tool. Michael Daniels created Fayr to manage his own co-parenting relationship. After he and his wife divorced, he found himself spending more time tracking paperwork, daily logs and receipts – that he was later accused of “making …
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How to Marie Kondo Your Divorce

Nothing causes anxiety like a divorce that’s “stuck.” The solution? Declutter your divorce and get it back on track. Now’s a great time to finalize your divorce. Or, at least head in that direction. By getting your divorce on track before summer, you can make any “big” lifestyle changes while your kids are out for the break and you have long sunshine-y days. So why should you “declutter” your divorce and get it on track? Because one thing that causes …
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Levine Law Turns … 10!

10 years ago, Erin Levine and Shelley VanRenselaar left their comfortable jobs at a bustling law office in Fairfield, CA to venture out into the unknown. Armed with her signature pink briefcase and the best paralegal in town, Erin set out to build Levine Family Law Group – a full-service boutique firm in Emeryville, CA. 10 years later, LFLG has solidified its place as a leading divorce and family law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. So what is …
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