San Diego Family Law Blog

Divorce is a financially complex process, even when the two parties are completely amicable and committed to resolving divorce disputes out of court. This process can be even more difficult when there is conflict over how to divide marital assets and money. This is a typical occurrence in divorces where there is a lot of money and valuable property on the line.

In high asset divorces, it is possible that one spouse could attempt to hide assets from the other. Sometimes, this is done out of revenge or the desire to keep more assets for himself or herself. Regardless of why this is happening, if you think your spouse is going to try to hide assets or is being dishonest in the divorce proceedings, you can fight back. There are steps you can take to locate assets and secure the information you need for a fair financial order.

As of January 1, spousal support will no longer be tax deductible

In divorce, spousal support is often a point of contention which takes time to negotiate. However, considering the changes in tax law taking effect the first day of 2019, time is of the essence if you want to use your spousal support payments as a tax deduction.

How the new tax laws will affect you after divorce

Spousal support payments will soon be drastically affected since new laws prohibit their deduction on your tax return. With changes to the law entering into the equation, your divorce may look a little different.

When parents are facing the prospect of divorce, they often wonder how their decision to move forward with this process will impact their child. As a California parent, you know you have custody rights and are entitled to access to your kid, but it is in your interests to fully understand how child custody works. There are different types of custody that can affect your role in the life of your child.

Legal custody refers to a parent's right to make decisions for his or her child. This is separate from physical custody rights, which pertain to the actual time you will spend with your child. Whether you will fight for custody in court or you believe it is best to negotiate a settlement out of court, it is smart to think about how you should address the issue of legal custody as you pursue a beneficial custody order.

No one knows better than you what your children need to help them adapt to a new lifestyle following your divorce. While you may rely on close family members or friends for advice or recommendations, the bottom line is that you know your children best and are fully equipped to make decisions on their behalves. It would be nice if divorce were so simple that all you would have to do is create the plan you determine is best for your kids then implement it.  

As you already know, however, there's another parent involved, and the California court also has to approve any parenting plan you wish to carry with you into your post-divorce future. If you and your former spouse get along well and are both willing to cooperate and compromise as needed regarding your children's care, you may have options available to you that other parents don't. For instance, you may choose to try a "bird nesting" custody arrangement. If the idea is new to you, there are support resources available to help.