| pamelajones | 0 Comments | California, Divorce, Family Law, Gray Divorce

Divorcing Your Partner After a Long Term Marriage

 

 

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The divorce rate among couples over 50 is steadily rising. This trend is referred to as the “gray divorce”.

When this type of client comes to see me they frequently have a long term marriage, with a life time of accumulated wealth, in real property, savings, investments and retirement accounts.

Every relationship is different, but some of the reasons that these long term marriages end include:

1. Lack of common interests or compatibility. The parties have grown apart after years of pursuing their own interests and hobbies, separate from each other. They may have very different friends and social groups. One party may have acquired additional education after the marriage and may have moved on to a different social group.

2. End of moral obligation. Some “gray divorce” couples stayed together through an unhappy marriage until their children were adults, believing that it was important to maintain a more stable home environment for their children. I find this is more prevalent in “gray divorce” than younger couple. Younger couples may feel that divorce is more socially acceptable; their children may have friends whose parents are divorced.

3. Pain. Clients over 70 who have made the decision to divorce their long term spouse frequently have a strong emotional component associated with the decision. Some have suffered many years of abuse:

Emotional
Physical
Financial

and just want to live out the rest of their life free from the abuse. They understand that the division of their assets will likely force them to live at a much lower standard of living, but they have reached the point where it is more painful to stay in the relationship than to leave and face the financial consequences.

4. If you find yourself in a “Gray Divorce”, it is important to take the time to plan for your future and seek financial advice as well as legal advice from an attorney who is a certified specialist in family law.

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| pamelajones | 0 Comments | Divorce

I’ve Been Served With Divorce Papers

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What Can I Do?

Don’t Panic – Make a Plan – Take Action

1. Don’t Ignore it

Your first instinct may be to contact your spouse and negotiate with them or try to reconcile. While this is always an option, you need to keep in mind that if you live in California, you have 30 days, after you are served, to file a response with the court. There is a specific court form that you need to file and the court charges a fee, unless you qualify for a fee waiver.

2. File Your Response with the Court

It is not enough to fill out the correct court form and mail a copy to your spouse or their attorney. You must file the Response with the court clerk in the county in which your divorce action is pending. If you fail to do this within the required number of days, your spouse can apply to the clerk of the court to take your default. This affects your rights and may impact the property, custody and/or support orders made in the court action.

3. Get information

Having accurate information will increase your odds of receiving a fair settlement or court order in your family law matter. Whether you ultimately decide to hire an attorney or not, consulting with a family law attorney will provide you with valuable information and insight into the legal process.

| pamelajones | 0 Comments | California, Child Custody, Child Visitation, Divorce, Family Law, Legal Advice, Legal Issues | , , , , , ,

SHOULD THEY STAY OR SHOULD THEY GO?

(California Custody and Visitation in a Coronavirus/COVID-19 World)

Many California parents are scared and confused when they think about sending their child to visit with the other parent when they are separated or divorced from that parent.

Can you deny visitation to the other parent while your community is sheltering in place?

Do you have a court ordered visitation schedule? If so, you should comply with this schedule, unless you have obtained a modification of that order.

What modifications could you consider requesting?

Modifications may include limiting the days or the length of time the other parent spends with the child, or alternatively, requesting the court make an order that visitation will take place by phone or Facetime/Zoom.

Make sure you have a valid reason for requesting this change. Denying a child access to their other parent may increase fear, anxiety and depression in your child.

Having a generalized fear (due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic) of your child leaving your home to visit with their other parent, will not likely be enough to change a court ordered visitation schedule.

You will need to show there is an actual danger to your child at the other parent’s house.

If you file a motion without good cause, the court may decide that there is no more danger in the other parent’s household than in your household and you may lose some of your parenting time.

If you have questions or concerns about child custody or visitation during this time, consult with an attorney who is a certified specialist in family law.

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| pamelajones | 0 Comments | California, Divorce, Family Law, Gray Divorce, Spousal Support

How Do I Know if I Am Separated From my Spouse?

Upset woman standing with man in background at home. Mature couple having relationship difficulties.

Am I Separated?

One of the first issues I discuss when I meet with a client is their “date of separation”. Most people know their date of marriage, but the date they separated from their spouse can be more difficult to determine.

A lot is riding on this date as the accumulation of community property, such as an interest in financial and retirement accounts, can be affected by the date of separation.

Also, the duration of spousal support can be impacted by the length of a marriage.

Effective January 1, 2017, there is a new California Family Code §70 that defines “date of separation”.

Section 70 states, in part, that ‘“Date of separation” means the date that a complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred, as evidenced by both of the following:

(1) The spouse has expressed to the other spouse his or her intent to end the marriage. ”

Example: Secretly deciding that you no longer want to be married and taking actions without your wife or husband’s knowledge does not mean that you are “separated”.

“(2) The conduct of the spouse is consistent with his or her intent to end the marriage.”

Example: one spouse has opened a new bank account in their name only.

Another example: one spouse moves out of the residence. Although living separately is not required to be considered “separated”.

Some spouses continue to live together until their divorce is completed and the community property assets are divided. It may be too expensive to live separately, while the assets are still undivided.

For instance, if the parties anticipate selling the family residence, they may continue to live there until the home is sold and the funds divided between them.

This would not work if there are issues of domestic violence or one of the spouses wants to live with a new partner.

California Family Code §70 also contains a provision that states: “In determining the date of separation, the court shall take into consideration all relevant evidence.”

Everyone’s story is unique and there may be circumstances where one spouse thought they were separated and the other did not.

It is important to obtain legal advice early concerning your “date of separation”, to avoid mistakes that could cause you to lose spousal support or community property assets that you might otherwise be entitled.

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| pamelajones | 0 Comments | California, Divorce, Family Law | , , ,

Don’t Tell Grandma About Your Divorce

Mid adult woman talking with her mother at home.
Advice from Friends and Family

Family gatherings can be a tough time for you when you are going through a divorce, or have a child custody, visitation or support dispute with your partner.

Did you talk about your divorce or family law problems at your last family get together?

If so, your family and friends may be showering you with well meaning, and potentially harmful, advice.

Be careful if they tell you to:

-–Stop working full-time, change to part-time, to avoid paying support to your spouse or partner;

-–Take your spouse’s name off all your bank accounts; or move all the money to hide it from your spouse until the divorce is over;

–Change your beneficiaries on all your life insurance policies;

-–Terminate your spouse or partner from your health insurance;

–Incur new debt (car loan/credit card ) so you can reduce your support; or,

–Have a family member contact your spouse or partner to let them know they better accept your settlement proposal or else.

Once you settle with your spouse or partner, resist the urge to discuss the details of any settlement in your case. Your friends and relatives don’t have all the details of your case and may be very emotionally invested in getting a specific result for you.

Mistakes early in your divorce or family law matter can cost you money, including money you may have to pay your spouse or partner’s attorney in addition to your own attorney.

Speaking to an experienced family law attorney may help you avoid costly mistakes.

 

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| pamelajones | 0 Comments | California, Divorce

Finding Your Inner Peace During A Divorce

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Do not let the behavior of others

destroy your inner peace – The Dalai Lama

So many times clients contact me for help about the behavior of their former spouse or partner.

Thousands of dollars in legal fees and costs are spent each year by parties who just want to feel at peace again in their lives.

They may believe that forcing their ex to change his or her behavior towards them will make them feel better or improve their lives.

They file requests with the court to demand that their ex change.

In some cases, the other person is well aware of the pain they are causing to their former spouse/partner. Their conduct may be calculated to create distress and push buttons, as a form of retaliation for circumstances surrounding the breakup of the relationship, or as a calculated maneuver to reach a goal in the division of marital property or child custody or support.

Other times, this person has moved on and is completely oblivious to the pain of the other party.

Regardless of the reason, you do yourself no favors by dwelling on the conduct of this other person and in fact, will likely cause yourself to incur substantial additional legal fees and costs chasing the dream that one day there will be a substantial change in their behavior towards you.

You must look for a way to find your own inner peace and realize that many more have come this way before you and have survived and even thrived in their new lives.

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Licensed in California.

| pamelajones | 0 Comments | Divorce

Divorce After 50. Will You Survive?

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Will it ruin your golden years?

Maybe – if you don’t have a plan for your future beyond divorce.

Dividing your retirement accounts, real property, bank accounts and other assets can change your plans. It can be devastating if you were not expecting a divorce.

Contact an experienced family law attorney to help you.

Read more in this Washington Post article.

| pamelajones | 0 Comments | Divorce

I Want a Divorce

Are you ready for your divorce in California?

Know your rights before you begin.

Before you head to the court house to file for divorce you may want to speak to an attorney about your legal rights and what you could expect if you decide to file for divorce in California.

It may be too late if you file for divorce and then start thinking about your divorce plan.

Is this the right time?

Are you really ready to dissolve your marriage, or is the threat of filing for divorce being used to change the behavior of your spouse?

Most marriages go through difficult times and many survive. Is this a temporary dissatisfaction, or is there something more serious going on?

Every marriage is different and you are the only one who can answer these questions.

Some of the more serious and potentially irreconcilable relationship problems can include:

1.    Domestic violence
2.   Alcohol and drug abuse;
3.   Out of control spending or different spending patterns by one spouse
4.   Problems with other spouse’s family and,
5.   Extra-marital relationships

How will this affect your children?

If you have children, this is a serious decision. A divorce can limit the amount of time you can spend with your children. Your conduct toward your spouse or children during this time can impact your ability to spend time with your children in the future.

Will I survive financially?

Proper planning for a divorce can make the difference between thriving after a divorce and complete financial meltdown and bankruptcy during and/or following the divorce.

Planning for your Future Beyond Divorce

Meeting with an attorney who specializes in family law can help you properly plan for your future.

You may have questions about the California Family Code concerning child custody, visitation, child and spousal support, division of real property, pensions or retirement accounts, business interests, and division of other property and debts.

Are you ready for your divorce?

Protect your rights. Know the law in California before you file for divorce.

| pamelajones | 0 Comments | Divorce

How Do I Find The Right Divorce Attorney?

Many people struggle with this when their marriage is breaking up and it causes a lot of stress and sleepless nights.

Do you really need an attorney?

If you are reading this, you are probably considering hiring an attorney. Some people appreciate the comfort and security of knowing they are not alone if they have to go to court; that someone will be sitting beside them when they have to face a judge or their ex-spouse.

Some people need an attorney because their divorce and family law issues are complicated and they don’t want to make a mistake or leave money on the table.

Some fear their ex-spouse or partner and cannot imagine they will get a fair deal without help.

How do you find the right divorce attorney?

What are you trying to accomplish? Some people want to mediate, others know this is not the right approach, based upon their spouse or partner. If you just want to hire an attorney and don’t want to consider mediation, that’s OK.

Each attorney will have their own experience and approach. Some attorneys are more aggressive than others.

When interviewing attorneys you should take this into consideration. If you pick an attorney who does not match your personal style and goals, this may lead to greater tension and stress for you during your divorce.

Are you being reasonable?

Going through a divorce is (hopefully) a once in a lifetime experience and your emotions are raw. You may surprise yourself, behaving in odd and unpredictable ways.

You must be able to rely on your attorney and his or her advice.

Some clients “just want to get it over with” . This may not be the best move and is likely a result of your increased stress and fear of uncertainty. Consider your attorney’s demeanor when you hire them. Some attorneys are more willing to go along with a client’s demand to settle a case quick, others will counsel the client to pause and take more time to consider their settlement.
Which attorney are you more comfortable with?

How much money are you willing to pay an attorney? What is your budget?

The more experienced attorneys will be more expensive. When you meet with potential attorneys, consider their experience and hourly rate. Is your case simple or do you have multiple unresolved issues? Clients who feel that they will need to engage in lengthy courtroom battles should be prepared to spend considerably more than a client who has already worked out an agreement with their spouse and merely needs an attorney to write up a marital settlement agreement.

Have you considered your future beyond divorce?

It is helpful to map out your divorce strategy and goals, just like you would plan your investments or retirement accounts, with an end goal in mind.

Make sure your attorney shares your goals. Discuss this in your initial interview and consider this when making your final decision to hire an attorney.

Consider hiring a certified specialist in family law.

What is a certified specialist ? The State Bar of California certifies attorneys as Family Law Specialists who have demonstrated proficiency in the specialized field of family law.

What does the State Bar require to certify an attorney as a specialist? A Certified Specialist is more than an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. Technically, an attorney cannot refer to themself as a specialist unless they are certified by the State Bar.

A California attorney who is certified by the State Bar as a Family Law Specialist must have (pursuant to the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization): Taken and passed a written examination in Family Law; demonstrated a high level of experience in Family Law; fulfilled ongoing education requirements; and, been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with her or his work.

If you want to speak with a California attorney, certified by the State Bar as a Family Law Specialist, go to: pamelaljones.com

| pamelajones | 0 Comments | Divorce

Calling It Quits – Divorce After 50

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Is this you?

Older clients seeking divorce after a long term marriage may have lots of unresolved disputes in their marriage. Many are making this decision after years of unhappiness. Some breakups involve extra-marital relationships, but most are just people who are tired of having a marriage in name only, while they feel they are living alone. Their children are older and may all be over 18 – some of these folks are just waiting for their children to graduate from high school so they can move on.

You may need help dividing your pension or other retirement accounts, real property, bank accounts and other assets. Your primary earning years may be behind you. Make sure you secure your future.

Contact an experienced family law attorney to help you step into a future beyond divorce.

Read more in this recent NY Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/your-money/after-full-lives-together-more-older-couples-are-divorcing.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share