If you and your spouse have kids, own a home or share other assets, then it's likely that settling your divorce isn't going to go as smoothly as you may hope it would. If you and your ex are having trouble reaching a compromise, then mediation may be an ideal way for...
Stacy Albelais, Attorney at Law
Witnessing domestic abuse leaves long-term effects on children
New research recently published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry captures how domestic violence can have a lasting impact on those kids who witness it in their homes.In fact, researchers believe that individuals who simply see one person abuse another...
Do I need an attorney to adopt my friend’s child in California?
Adoptions that occur between birth and adoptive parents who already are friends are referred to as independent adoptions because they don't involve a California state agency or a private one placing the child. While some jurisdictions allow consenting parties to...
How do grandparents qualify for visitation in California?
While there are some states in the country that don't have laws on the books that protect a grandparent's right to visitation with their grandchild, here in Riverside, their right to this is protected by California Family Code sections 3100-3015.These laws permit a...
Restraining orders can protect you from future domestic violence
A resident of California who is being harassed, threatened, sexually or physically abused or stalked may find that taking out a protective order is one way to try to keep the person responsible at a safe distance. Protective orders can be taken out against a variety...
Infidelity may have an indirect impact on your child custody case
Up until a few decades ago, a cheating spouse may have stood a chance of losing it all when their ex filed to end their marriage. Ever since many states, including California, have instituted a no-fault divorce, it's made it where a spouse's adultery has little to no...
Enjoy visitation time with your kids by exploring their interests
As a noncustodial parent, it's hard to see the smiling faces of your children when you pick them up on visitation day, because you know how badly they've missed you. It's even harder to say good-bye to them after dropping them off at the other parent's home.This is...
Was infidelity the cause of your divorce?
When two people agree to get married, the general understanding is that they will remain faithful to one another in mind, body and emotions. This means, in very simple terms, no extramarital "affairs." The term "affairs" here is put in quotation marks because,...
What are the negatives of a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement can be helpful to spouses who later decide to get a divorce. While most people focus on the potential positives of such an agreement, however, spouses need to consider the potential disadvantages as well before they make the decision to draft...
Drug and alcohol abuse can impact child custody in California
There are many reasons why couples decide to divorce. Issues with addiction, including drugs and alcohol, pornography and gambling issues, are a major contributing factor to the decline of marriages. When one spouse becomes addicted or starts engaging in unsafe...