Year: 2017
The family home in a divorce
California residents who are getting a divorce may want to refinance the family home in order to keep it or get a new mortgage. They should think about a number of financial factors including whether it is possible to buy out the other spouse, whether alimony and...
Life changes and child support modification
A California parent who has gone through a divorce and who has been ordered to pay child support may seek a modification for a number of reasons. An injury, losing a job, a change in household income or a change in marital status could all be reasons that result in...
Divorce and 401(k)s
Employee retirement plans like 401(k) plans are usually not co-owned with a spouse. However, couples in California who are planning to get a divorce should understand how a 401(k) can be treated when a marriage ends. Under certain conditions, the retirement account...
Rules for claiming alimony payments as tax deductions
California residents who pay alimony should be aware of the rules for deducting support payments from taxes. For example, a U.S. Tax Court ruled that alimony payments cannot be claimed as deductions if they are not included in the original divorce or separation...
Financially preparing for a divorce
California residents who are considering getting a divorce might be concerned about how to prepare financially before starting the process and how to plan for the post-divorce future. While settling financial issues can be a delicate process, with proper planning...
Couples divorces over political disagreements
According to research, couples in California and across the nation are getting divorced or breaking up over politics. The data showed that about 10 percent of all couples were getting divorced or otherwise ending their relationship due to arguments centered around...
How to limit exposure to debt in a marriage
California residents who are married or planning to do so may benefit from a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. In some cases, it may limit an individual's liability when it comes to paying a spouse's debt. A prenuptial can be worded to specify that premarital debt...
How parents can make summer vacation easier
As children in California get older, they are less and less likely to want to spend their summer vacations with their divorced parents. While this is perfectly normal, it is important that non-custodial parents learn to create living conditions that acknowledge this...
Dealing with requests for back child support
When California custodial parents are seeking child support payments, they may want to request retroactive support. They may need to provide evidence that support was not paid and that they attempted to collect it. If the other parent is the child's father, it may...
Divorce court has no jurisdiction over bankruptcy
California residents who are facing both a divorce and bankruptcy may be interested to learn that a federal bankruptcy judge recently determined that bankruptcy could potentially wipe out divorce settlement obligations. The case was taken to federal court after a...