Law Office of Jonah S. Walsh

Property Division A major part of divorce cases is the determination how the property will be divided. Some cases will be handled in community property states while others occur in equitable distribution states. In community property states, such as California, courts consider the marital assets to be jointly owned by both spouses and divide them equally. A family law attorney can assist to determine the value of any assets and help them understand which possessions are eligible to be divided and which ones are exempt

Child Custody and Support Legal custody determines which parent will make the important decisions concerning their child, while physical custody refers to the parent with whom the child primarily lives. There are a variety of different custodial and visitation arrangements. In all cases, courts make child custody decisions based on what they determine to be in the best interests of the child. Child support, normally paid by one parent to the parent holding primary physical custody, is intended to provide children with a standard of living that is similar to what they would have enjoyed if their parents remained together. In many states, judges use child support guidelines to help them determine the monthly amount that will be ordered.

Marriage of Sagonowsky -- Family Code Section 271 Only Authorizes Trial Courts to Issue Sanctions' Awards in the Form of Attorney Fees and Costs, and Not General Damages for the Consequences of Alleged Misconduct We've written extensively about Family Code section 271 sanctions, which section states "the court may base an award of attorney's fees and costs on the extent to which the conduct of each party or attorney furthers or frustrates the policy of the law to promote set...Continue reading