Redwood City Family Law Blog

Parents in California and other parts of the country are understandably concerned about the possible dangers and risks associated with texting and social media use. However, there's a new study that suggests texting and social media can help keep parents and children stay connected when a marriage comes to an end. Interestingly, it didn't seem to matter how well former spouses got along with one another.

While it's generally agreed that contact between parents and children after a divorce is often better in person, there are times when this isn't possible. But, according to the study's co-author, texting and social media can let children know they are cared for and loved between scheduled visitations. In order to test the long-held theory that how well divorced parents get along is the main factor that determines how children handle divorce, the study team looked at roughly 400 parents no longer together with kids between the ages of 10 and 18.

California business owners often do not consider the potential for divorce when they decide to marry. Still, the presence of a business means that entrepreneurs may need to consider additional protections before or after they tie the knot. Many equity investors may even insist on protections that could safeguard the business from being divided or destroyed in case of the end of a marriage. In many cases, both spouses are deeply involved in a business' success or failure. Making an agreement does not need to mean that one spouse is deprived of the value they deserve, but simply creates a framework for fair distribution.

One of the most important ways that people can protect their businesses is by signing a prenuptial agreement or even a postnuptial contract. The agreement may classify the business and its value before marriage as separate property. Even if it recognizes growth as marital property, it could specify a certain cash value or percentage to be paid to the other spouse, rather than dividing the business itself. This kind of agreement can also specify which partner would buy out the other in a divorce, in case both are full partners in the enterprise.

Preparing for college costs can be a daunting task for any parents in California. This process can be even more complicated for divorced parents. It's estimated that two-thirds of married couples have no financial plan in place in case of divorce or death of a spouse. Even though divorce can strain finances, there are some ways parents may be able reduce the impact of a split on their child's education.

College-related expenses generally range anywhere from around $20,000 to nearly $50,000. Regardless of what the tally ends up being, former spouses who are actively co-parenting are generally advised to put child support for minor children, spousal support and other family obligations first.

Some divorced or single parents in California need extra financial assistance to help care for their children. These types of payments are referred to as child support. While they're usually paid by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent, this may not always be the case. The specifics of child support will depend on the state where the recipient lives and the nature of the agreement involving the two parties.

The first step with child support is the identify the non-custodial parent. It's important to remember that parents do not need to be ex-spouses for child support to be ordered. The amount of the payments is normally based on the income of both parents. Each state has guidelines that are used to calculate payments, which are sometimes directly taken from a non-custodial parent's wages.