LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Written by Andrew J. Botros, CFLS, CALS^*

Welcome to this edition of Family Law News. As we navigate through 2025, the Family Law Section continues to evolve and expand its educational offerings and member services. The recent changes in our field—from new statutory requirements to the transition away from DissoMaster—remind us of the importance of staying current with both legal developments and practical tools that affect our daily practice.

This issue brings together timely articles addressing critical changes that will impact every family law practitioner in California. We begin with Maya GaliciaCanto’s essential guide, "Navigating the Change from DissoMaster to Xspouse." With Thomson Reuters discontinuing DissoMaster as of March 31, 2025, and the Judicial Council’s announcement that it will not be recertified, Maya provides invaluable guidance on making this transition. Her comprehensive article reviews the statutory framework for support calculators, compares the two programs, and identifies both free and paid resources to help practitioners master Xspouse.

I’ve contributed two pieces to this issue that I hope will serve as practical resources for your practice. The first is entitled "The Top Five Cases of 2024." It includes what I consider the most consequential published decisions from last year. From the Court of Appeal’s interpretation of attorney trust account rules in Dickson v. Mann to the critical holding in In re Marriage of Wiese regarding the statute of limitations for breach of fiduciary duty claims involving separate property, these cases will significantly impact how we practice family law going forward. Each case summary includes the precise holdings in bold and my commentary in italics to help you quickly grasp the practical implications of each case.