Aaron Perry, Esq. San Diego Family Law

Fielding general family law questions- no privilege or privacy on Facebook!!!

What's a "prenup"? By name, it is an agreement or contract a couple enters into before marriage. Please know this is very general and not intended as legal advice. California has a lot of statutes and case law that describes property. Prenups allow couples to ignore a lot of those preexisting laws, and make their own. I hear from a lot of people that they want a prenup because they have a lot of property already (before marriage) that they want to protect. A consult is hel...pful here because, again generally, property acquired before marriage is already protected, so maybe a prenup is not necessary. That concern might be addressed with a thorough explanation of property law, and some strategy. A prenup's primary purpose is to address property that will be acquired after marriage. Prenups are designed to address property and sometimes spousal support (commonly referred to as alimony). You cannot address child support or child custody issues in a prenup. 619.542.1530 [email protected] See more

My 4 year-old son tells me he loves his whole family, and all kids love their moms and dads. Then he clarifies, "well, not all kids love their moms and dads". So I asked him, "you don't think all kids love their moms and dads?" His answer-"no, I've seen it on the news" Point- kids pick-up way more than we think. Couples might think they are shielding their kids from the "adult issues", but man, kids are observant!

The relationship between you and your lawyer is a very important first step. A judge (now retired) told me family law touches people in more intimate ways than gynecologists. There are a lot of us out there. When looking, ask for references. We are applying for a job when a client first comes to our offices. Watch out for any promises. A good lawyer knows no case is perfect, and an ultimate ruling is impossible to predict. Early lofty promises is a lawyer trying to wow you o...ut of a lot of money in a hurry, before getting off the case. A good attorney will explain your options and discuss benefits and risks with each option. Ask what areas they practice. You don't necessarily need a specialist, but an attorney that does everything doesn't do anything well. It's another sign of making a quick buck. Big firms have a lot of resources, but you don't get a close relationship, and they are costly. They are necessary for complex property cases, but those are rare. Finally, personality matters. In family law, you usually go on having some sort of relationship with the other side when the litigating is over. An attorney that tells you to take everything to the mat might be for you, but an attorney willing to be honest and tell you the battles you might not win, even if it means the attorney makes less money, is something to consider as well. Fighting everything means a lot of lost money and hurt feelings. My 12 years in the courtroom gave me a pretty good idea on how cases should resolve. That's where I start, and I'll go to the mat to get it right, but I will not encourage you to engage in a loosing battle just so I can make money. See more

So often in my career, when people first seek help to move their family forward to a possibly healthier and more stable environment, they are stunned when they hear what the law actually says about their situation. They naturally first turn to friends and family for information and advice, that is almost always wrong or only partially correct. Once they learn how the law will be applied to their family, they are in a far better place to start making real decisions. It doesn't hurt to call. It's free, and you might be very surprised at what you find out. Call me for a free consult. 619.542.1530