We are family. We love, have children, own property, have pets, file taxes, and grocery shop. Increasingly throughout California, the United States, and the world, our relationships are receiving official recognition. With marriage comes both benefits and responsibilities. Among these are the spouses duties to support one another, community property, and obligations to support children of the spouses.
In California, marriage and domestic partnership are both based on the proposition that the spouses have a mutual obligation to support one another. This is the fundamental right for which we fight — the right to bond into a recognized unit in love. It is also the source of the duties which flow between the parties on dissolution of marriage.
The duties don't magically go away at the time of divorce. And so that is where the Courts come in, applying law and formulae to determine how to divide property, the rights of any children of the union, and whether and for what period one spouse's income may be apportioned to the other.
At the time of the dissolution, the Court will take provisional or "temporary" measures to maintain the status quo — that is to keep things the way they are. But, after a period of exchange of information, the Court will judge an equitable outcome for the parties and their children. That is can be difficult and rancorous. But with proper legal counsel, a party can help inform the Court about the issues and can help guide the case to a reasonable outcome.
Its important to select sensitive legal counsel in such a personal matter who can represent your interests with clarity and passion. Contact me for a consultation today.
