Family Law Section

This was a challenge of the denial of a pendente lite fee order under Family Code section 2030. Though the appellant made a pendente lite fee request, the trial court did not rule on the issue of attorney fees until the conclusion of the trial. The appellate court concluded that the trial court violated Family Code section 2030 by not ruling on the appellant’s attorney fee request, as the statute requires a reasonably prompt ruling on such a request. The failure was prejudicial because the self-represented appellant failed to have a grant deed that would have established a transmutation in her favor admitted during the trial. The appellate court further concluded that, if the appellant was represented by counsel Read more

Understanding the various types of illiquid investments that increasingly are part of the divorce process and how best to deal with them in divorce proceedings. Read more

Are you feeling the post-pandemic burnout? Are you trying to develop ways to get your mental and physical health back on track? Read more

Stock prices are collapsing, and our clients’ community wealth is vanishing.  The Federal Reserve is restricting monetary policy, inflation is a beast, and venture capital is drying up. Read more

Are you wondering how the current job market is affecting your clients or the opposing parties? Please join Vocational Experts Soma McCandless and Marlis Bruns as they address various aspects of the current job market, such as opportunities for remote work, unemployment rates, which industries are faring better, or worse, and how searching for jobs has evolved. Read more

This is an Indian Child Welfare Act case where inquiry and notice were not properly effectuated in the trial court. After termination of parental rights, the Department (of Children and Family Services) conducted the further ICWA inquiry as required and submitted its findings to the juvenile court and the juvenile court made findings that ICWA noticing and investigation was completed and that the ICWA was inapplicable. Subsequently the Department petitioned to supplement the record with that finding and moved the appellate court to dismiss the appeal as moot. The Appellate court declined. Read more

This case involves domestic violence between the parents in the children’s presence. After an initial voluntary services period, and another incident which father reported to their worker, and an executed adjustment, the Department filed a petition and detained the children. The juvenile court also Read more

While the family law attorney is focused on asset division, court filings and deadlines, and custody disputes, a terrific estate planning attorney can help the client prepare for a bright future and protect themselves and their assets should the worst happen before divorce is final. Read more

The Collaborative Practice model for divorce is an important way of reaching agreements, including about highly contentious issues, with difficult personalities and entrenched family dynamics. Read more

During post-permanency (after a permanent plan is chosen following termination of efforts to reunify children with their parents*), mother filed a Welfare and Institutions Code (W&I) §388 petition for additional reunification services. Read more