Blog
Interesting and informative articles from attorneys experienced in family law, mediation, collaborative divorce, and estate planning.
The Best Interest Of The Pets – Divorcing With Dogs
I recently moved to Long Beach, California, from the Inland Empire and I’m amazed at how dog-friendly this town is. I can pretty much take my dog everywhere: stores, restaurants, cafes. Watching dogs interact, you notice unique personalities – the introverts, the...
Divorce and Death: How to Protect your Interests if you Die Before Completing your Divorce
In nearly twenty-five years of practice in California, I’ve had less than a handful of clients whose spouses passed away before the divorce was completed. The first time, I was the neutral mediator in a high conflict divorce. We reached agreements on everything, and...
The Collaborative Premarital Agreement Process – A Better Way to Start a Marriage
As more and more couples are waiting longer to marry, California lawyers are seeing an increase in requests for Premarital (also called Prenuptial) Agreements. By the time they get married, many people already have assets, such as retirement accounts and real...
Divorce: Private or Public?
Divorce can be difficult no matter the circumstances. What you may not know is how much of your personal matter and financial information becomes public…
The Key to Success when Dividing Retirement Plans in a California Divorce
By Diana L. MartinezCollaborative Lawyer and Mediator Dividing retirement plans in a divorce can be complicated. Whether you are in a high-conflict divorce in court or in an out-of-court process like mediation or collaborative divorce, mistakes can result in losing...
In a California Divorce, “50/50” isn’t always “Equal”
By Diana L. MartinezCollaborative Lawyer & Mediator When you divorce in California, with few exceptions, any assets you acquired during the marriage get split equally. This includes retirement and pension plans. Social Security is separate property, under Federal...