Adoption is a beautiful way to grow your family, and stepparent adoption is a special and unique way to really show your love. Unfortunately, adoption can also be a very complex legal process that needs to be handled properly in order to avoid delays and other issues. This blog outlines what needs to happen in order to successfully complete a stepparent adoption.  What is Required The first thing you need to do Read More

When a person creates an estate plan, the estate plan typically includes a Will and that Will typically names an executor. If a person does not create a will, courts will assign an executor of their estate after their death. So what exactly is an executor? If you’ve been named executor of a deceased loved one’s Will and/or estate, you may be wondering, “What does this even mean?” The executor is the person Read More

A revocable living trust is a legal document that is used as a part of many estate planning strategies. The document is drafted and signed while you are living and funded by the assets you choose. These assets can include property, many financial accounts, and much more. When added to the revocable living trust, they are retitled in that trust’s name. Rather than you being the legal owner, they are owned by the Read More

Without a doubt, prenuptial agreements get a lot of bad press. For many, signing a prenup is equal to taking the first step on a path that will surely end with a divorce - and that’s even before the couple actually gets married. It is true that a prenup regulates important matters related to property ownership and financial obligations of the spouses - and it does so in a way that can help a couple avoid bitter Read More

A Living Will is an important document that allows a person to state in advance his or her wishes with regards to medical treatment and end-of-life care. Its main purpose is to provide doctors and health care providers with information about the patient’s preferences and decisions in situations when they are unable to communicate such information personally. As such, it is often regarded to be an important part of a Read More

According to California Family Code, both parents have an equal responsibility to care for their child’s health, safety, and welfare. One of the primary ways to do so is by providing the child with adequate financial support and satisfying their material needs such as the need for sustenance, shelter and so on. Fulfilling this duty usually comes naturally when the parents of a child remain married to each other. Read More

Abuse, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, is a serious problem in the U.S. Statistics shows that, on average, almost 20 people are physically abused by their intimate partner every minute. Unfortunately, California is no exception to this saddening national trend. Data shows that 32.9% of women and 27.3% of men have experienced some form of harassment at the hands of their intimate partners in their Read More

Out of all of the undesirable effects a divorce may have on a person's life, its financial impact may be not only one of the most challenging but also one of the most immediately perceived. For example, according to one source, some individuals may need an income increase of as much as 30% in order to maintain the same lifestyle and standard of living after the divorce. Additionally, statistics show that 20% of Read More

As a parent, you have to make hundreds of decisions regarding your child's well-being virtually every day. Out of the deep love and care you have for them, you no doubt take time to make the best choice even in seemingly small matters. At times, it may feel overwhelming to make an appropriate choice when it comes to more important, bigger decisions - such as those regarding health choices, diet, or education.  Out Read More

Couples who decide to pursue a divorce in California are faced with a complex problem that can prove to be one of the greatest challenges and most conscientious issues of a divorce - the division of property. The matter is indeed delicate - after all, for a number of years, both spouses may have worked equally hard to accumulate and take care of shared marital wealth. Some assets or property - such as a house or a Read More