Until the late 1960s, to get a divorce in the United States, you had to have “grounds”— a reason to end your marriage that was considered legally valid. You needed to prove, with evidence, that your spouse had breached the marital contract with wrongdoing such as adultery, cruelty, or abandonment. Today, no-fault divorce laws…
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a very serious matter. It endangers yourself and others. Alcohol-related accidents are the leading cause of death on U.S. roadways, accounting for nearly 30% of all traffic fatalities—well over 10,000 each year, plus 300,000+ injuries. Almost 70% of those accidents involve drivers with more than…
Earlier this month, six years after the shocking murder of a South Pasadena child by his father, new legislation aimed at protecting children from abusive parents and addressing systemic failures of the family court system was signed into law by California Governor Newsom. In April 2017, 5-year-old Aramazd “Piqui” Andressian, Jr., was smothered to…
Over the last few weeks, the contentious (and seemingly sudden) breakup between American pop star Joe Jonas and British actress Sophie Turner has made headlines almost daily—and rapidly escalated into a complex and closely watched custody battle. On September 6th, after seven years together (four married) and the birth of two daughters, the Jonas…
As the parent of an adult child, you’ve seen your kid through so much. You’ve cheered their first steps, first days of school, first dates; comforted them through boo-boos, broken bones, broken hearts, meltdowns and milestones, victories and defeats; graduation, a wedding, perhaps the birth of grandchildren. Even after our kids grow up, move…
It’s a situation that, at least on the surface, seems ripe for a parody of the Pop Princess’s song lyrics: “Oops, he did it again,” “Gimme More”… Media reports revealed that just days before their eldest son reached the age of majority, Britney Spears’s ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is again considering going to court to…
The end of a marriage is, of course, hardest on the divorcing couple and their children. But there’s pain on the periphery, too. When your adult child goes through a separation, it’s natural to feel like you’re riding the emotional roller coaster right along with them; you may have sorrow, anger, frustration, disappointment, worry—or,…
Parental Alienation is a hotly disputed, widely misunderstood, and oft-misused concept that can distort custody cases—sometimes with dangerous or damaging outcomes. It’s essential to understand the context and history of the Parental Alienation theory and how misapplication can have a detrimental—even devastating—effect in family court. Under California law, the child’s best interests, except in…
It’s back-to-school season—a time most kids (and many parents) greet with excitement, anticipation, wistfulness, nerves, and even a bit of dread. It’s hard to say goodbye to summer and return to the structure of classes and extracurricular activities. There’s so much to remember and prepare. It can take days or weeks to settle into…
Raising your kids is the most important and rewarding job you’ll ever do. Parenting brings immeasurable love, joy, and satisfaction. It’s also one of the most challenging tasks out there—and that’s true whether you do it as a married couple, single, or separated person. Still, there is no question that divorced parents face specific…
