Family Law News Monthly

Recent Family Law Cases (current through 8/26/19)
By: Stephen D. Hamilton, CFLS Read more

This program offers all 6 hours of specialty credits required as part of the mandatory continuing legal education requirements. The program includes 4 hours of legal ethics, 1 hour of competency issues, and 1 hour addressing bias. The program starts on September 6, 2019, in Oakland, California. Additional sessions will be held on October 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, October 25, 2019 in Rancho Cucamonga, and November 8, 2019 in Sacramento. Read more

One of the most gratifying tasks for the Family Law Executive Committee is the presentation of awards. Awards are presented to judicial officers, attorneys, court staff and others based on different criteria. Read more

Recent Family Law Cases (current through 7/25/19)[Opinions available at:  http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions-slip.htm]By:  Stephen D. Hamilton, CFLS Dependency Procedure In Re Harley C.7/15/19, CA 2/7:  B293323https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B293323.PDF TCT did not allow M to testify or call witnesses as her counsel failed to file a joint trial statement required by local rule adopted after trial date had been set. TCT then awarded sole custody to F and terminated its jurisdiction. Reversed. CtA found local rule in question was invalid as it was adopted in violation… Read more

One area in which the Family Law Executive Committee has excelled is providing live education. Each year FLEXCOM offers 7 or 8 live education opportunities throughout the State of California. These programs are developed and overseen by our live education committee. This message highlights upcoming live education events in 2019 and 2020: One Fell Swoop, the 2019 CLA Annual Meeting, and the 2020 San Luis Obispo County Minor’s Counsel Training. Read more

Recent Family Law Cases (current through 6/21/19) [Opinions available at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions-slip.htm] By: Stephen D. Hamilton, CFLS Read more

A significant role of the Family Law Executive Committee is to propose affirmative legislation to address issues or problems within family law. This message addresses the affirmative legislation process, current affirmative legislation being developed by FLEXCOM, and how you can be involved with future FLEXCOM affirmative legislation. Read more

One of the functions of the Family Law Executive Committee I appreciate most is our role in reviewing and commenting on pending legislation. This process entails our legislation chair, currently Justin O’Connell of Monterey, reviewing all legislation proposed in a session and determining which bills could have an impact on the practice of family law. During the current 2018-2019 session, that meant the FLEXCOM Legislation Committee reviewed 1,831 California Assembly bills and 791 bills introduced by the California Senate. Read more

Recent Family Law Cases (current through 5/20/19) [Opinions available at: http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions-slip.htm] By: Stephen D. Hamilton, CFLS Read more

One of the ongoing messages coming from the State Bar, the California Supreme Court, and the California Lawyers Association is giving back to the community. Some of you do that through your work in the public sector or for non-profits. Others contribute to their communities through social organizations independent of the legal practicing. Continuing with my theme of three, this month’s chair message addresses three ways you can give back to your community. Read more