Family Law News Monthly

DEPENDENCY (current through 06/17/25) Read more

FAMILY LAW (Through 06/21/25) By:  Andrew Botros, CFLS, CALS Read more

As June arrives, family law practice across the state shifts with the season. With schools out and summer schedules in full swing, attorneys are often busy navigating modified custody arrangements, coordinating long-distance parenting plans, and addressing time-sensitive filings before families head off on vacation. Read more

As Chair of the CLA Family Law Executive Committee, I’m proud to reflect on the vital work we’ve accomplished together this year—and even more energized by what lies ahead. Read more

DEPENDENCY (current through 05/18/25)By: John Nieman The precise holdings in a given case are bolded. Auther’s note is italicized. B.D. v Sup. Ct. of CCC4/30/25, CA 1/3 A172485https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A172485.PDF Mother appealed the setting of a Welfare & Institutions (W&I) Code §366.26 hearing. A W&I §366.26 hearing is set when efforts to assist a parent/s to reunify have proven to be inadequate, so a permanent plan such as adoption must be chosen for the child/ren in question. Both findings require clear and… Read more

FAMILY LAW (Through 05/27/25) By:  Andrew Botros, CFLS, CALS Read more

As we approach the midpoint of 2025, take time to reflect on recent family law case developments. Like always, this issue offers a concise overview of family law and dependency case updates. Read more

FAMILY LAW (Through 04/29/25) By:  Andrew Botros, CFLS, CALS The precise holdings in a given case are bolded. My comments are in italics. In re Marriage of DeBenedetti and Ensberg 04/24/2025 CA 4/1: D082801 – Rubin, J. https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/D082801.PDF In this case, the Court of Appeal affirmed the family court’s postjudgment orders that enforced a fiduciary breach judgment by assigning an ex-husband’s retirement accounts to his former wife through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). The opinion provides an important clarification that… Read more

In this case, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to set aside a default under Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b). That provision mandates relief when a default results from an attorney’s mistake. The trial court denied the motion based on its mistaken view that litigation strategy does not qualify as “attorney fault” under section 473(b). Read more

Learn a bit more about our members and why they find FLEXCOM to be a great opportunity. This month we are featuring our Vice Chair, Leslie Abrigo. Question: Share a little about your journey to becoming a family law lawyer, starting your own practice, and motivation for any specialty. Answer: I started my own law firm as soon as I passed the Bar because I wanted to build something that reflected my values—strategic advocacy, client education, and long-term planning. Over… Read more