What is Community Property?
The state of California can recognize you and your partner as a couple without marriage. Through a registered domestic partnership, couples can receive state recognition of their relationship, while avoiding the formalities,...more
Cryptocurrency is an increasingly common investment in spouses’ portfolios. While cryptocurrency can present unique challenges due to the various exchanges, different forms of recordkeeping, and new vocabulary, the key...more
Divorce is an emotional and complex process, but one important aspect that often gets overlooked is your estate plan. If you don’t update it, your estranged spouse could still inherit your assets or make crucial financial and...more
Divorce can be challenging under any circumstances, but when community property is damaged during legal proceedings, the challenges and stress can escalate significantly. Here in Los Angeles, we seem to face that possibility...more
The term "gray divorce" is commonly used to describe later-life separations, but "golden divorce" might be a more fitting term, suggesting optimism and new beginnings. This concept reminds me of the beloved 1980s sitcom The...more
Merriam-Webster defines “defunct” as “no longer living, existing, or functioning.” In Washington, a “defunct marriage” is a term for spouses who have given up any hope of salvaging the relationship, and yet for whatever...more
The 1970s were the heyday of the now-extinct television genre known as the variety show: a weekly extravaganza headlined by a well-known entertainer, generally accompanied by a supporting cast of singers, dancers and...more
One of the most common assets that divorcing couples own is real property. In many cases, the real property is limited to the marital residence. However, some cases also involve either residential or commercial investment...more
Around the world there are millions of people who rely on insurance for homes and vehicles to celebrity body parts. Nowadays, there is even insurance to cover the postponement or cancellation of one’s wedding. Ironically,...more
Student loans have become a familiar discussion among families and, more recently, a subject for debate between the federal government and the Courts....more
In Leggio v. Florian, the trial court awarded three real estate properties to the wife over an allegation by the husband that all of the properties were his separate property. No. 14-21-00168-CV, 2022 Tex. App. LEXIS 5563...more
The demographics of family life have changed a lot in recent decades. Young people are marrying less and later in life when they do. The number of young people interested in having kids is in decline. And older folks are...more
The cryptocurrency market was down approximately 64% for the year 2022, with most of the decline occurring before the FTX collapse. For many, this news may bring a feeling of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). For practitioners...more
What you don’t know about your mortgage could hurt you. In Washington State, we are not a “title state.” Accordingly, placing your spouse’s name on the title of a separate real estate does not automatically make it community...more
The lyrics “We only said goodbye with words” were famously written and sung in Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. The song was about the ending of a relationship, and the theme of goodbye. Under Washington law, “words of...more
As a divorce lawyer in Washington State, it is common for new clients to come in to our first meeting with the understanding that Washington is a community property state and believing that this means all property and debts...more
Divorcing spouses often have a number of business issues to resolve, but one key aspect that is often overlooked takes place when divorce settlements involve the division of an ownership interest in a private company. ...more
This presentation covers trust issues that arise in divorce disputes, such as spouses creating an irrevocable trust, fraud claims to void a trust, conflict of interest issues raised by the same attorney drafting both spouse’s...more
The saying that “the beaten road is the safest” is typically associated with advice not to take unnecessary risks and to play things safe. In the law, the notion rings true for courts and their adherence to established...more
In most cases, a marriage represents the joining of two families, rather than simply the two individuals who take vows. It is perhaps unsurprising therefore that the emotional fallout of a divorce can similarly involve the...more
Too often, infidelity plays a role in the demise of a marriage. The spouse who was cheated on will likely (and understandably) be angry. But can that infidelity be used against the cheating spouse during your divorce? In...more
Summertime is a special time of year in Wisconsin. It brings many families to cabins where they create memories and traditions that will be cherished forever. However, many problems arise if families do not create a plan...more
Jack Bux and his high school sweetheart, Diane, have been married a few years, but the pandemic has taken its toll on their relationship, and they could soon be parting ways....more
This will be short, for once. Divorce often involves one spouse buying out another from the marital residence. Best advice was, and still is, home values are such that paying for an appraisal can be useful. But of course,...more
Many Californians get married without understanding the contract they are entering into. Here are the basics of California Family Law...more