Bay Area Family Law Blog

What if your your teen is not following the custody schedule?

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in parenting issues on Thursday, June 18, 2020.

Shared custody can be a real problem with teens. Your child just reached 16, and they can now drive and take care of themselves in most situations. You have a custody schedule that is supposed to be in place, but they seem to ignore it when they please.

This can be a big issue for parents who share custody, because not knowing where your child is or where they'll be at night can be scary. This kind of split-household arrangement can be tough on teens, too, because they're now having to remember to bring more homework with them, to go to different activities from each home on different days and generally have to manage their lives out of two homes.

Appraisals are essential if you're dividing art in divorce

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in high-asset divorce on Friday, June 12, 2020.

One thing of value in your home is a large collection of artwork that you and your spouse collected over the years. You've both been avid art collectors for many years, and both of you have invested thousands into your own little gallery.

Now that you're looking at divorcing, you want to make sure that you get your fair share of those pieces. What should you do to help that happen?

Divorcing a narcissist can be a difficult ordeal

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

You may have learned the hard way that narcissists thrive on control. When you got married, you may have thought your spouse was kind, caring, loving and had a number of other positive attributes. However, soon after you tied the knot, your spouse's personality seemed to completely change. Rather than feeling as if you could make your own decisions, you likely began feeling controlled by your spouse.

Any disagreement you had may have gotten blown out of proportion, and your spouse may have done everything possible to belittle you. Though you may have felt trapped in this ordeal, you came to the difficult decision to end the marriage. Now, you have to contend with the task of divorcing a narcissist.

Do you need to follow community property rules?

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in complex property division on Thursday, June 4, 2020.

You probably know that all assets you've gained during your marriage are considered shared in California. That means that you and your spouse will be expected to divide those assets 50-50 in divorce.

Dividing your assets equally is not always easy. You may disagree with the items that have been identified as marital property or separate property. You might want to negotiate a larger share of property because of the way your divorce is impacting you.

Make sure a move is right for your kids after a divorce

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in family law on Thursday, May 28, 2020.

You love the idea of moving to the city, but you know that your divorce might hold you back. Presently, you and your spouse have lived in a neighborhood far from the city, in a highly rural area. You don't love how long it takes to drive your kids to school or that they have no friends nearby. Your family is also a half-hour or more away, when they'd be just around the corner if you moved.

Moving is a big deal after divorce, though, because it would directly affect your children and custody plan. Your spouse wants them to continue to go to the school they currently attend, but you want them to enjoy better schools in the Bay Area. You think that they would thrive being closer to your family and having friends nearby in the neighborhood.

What can you do to make divorce easier for your kids?

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in parenting issues on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

A divorce isn't easy on anyone, let alone children who may not understand what's happening. That's why it's important for you and your co-parent to work together to build up your children's confidence and to help them understand that you are both still there to support them in their lives.

After a divorce, many parents still feel at odds with one another. One of the best things you can do is to work out a way to co-parent without the conflicts you had during your marriage. Why?

Don't risk it all: Get professional support for your divorce

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in high-asset divorce on Friday, May 15, 2020.

You and your spouse both make good money. Together, you easily pull in six figures. Now, you know that you're going to be going through divorce, and the lifestyle you've become accustomed to could end.

For the longest time, you've been the supportive partner. Your job paid less, but your money could go into the stock market and retirement accounts. Yours was used to pay off debt and to build up assets. On the other hand, your spouse's money was just saved and put aside. They spent it on what they wanted. Yes, your spouse covered your mortgage and utilities, but everything else was on your shoulders.

Focusing on your own emotions may help your child during divorce

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP on Sunday, May 10, 2020.

Like most California parents, from the moment your child was born, you likely knew that you would do anything for him or her, especially when it came to protecting your child's well-being. You may have experienced instances where you had to protect your child from the various household dangers and other physical hazards that could affect a small child, but when it came to protecting him or her emotionally, you have had a more difficult time.

Though you would love for your child to never experience any type of emotional pain, it happens to everyone. Now, you wonder how your children will fare as you and the other parent go through a difficult custody battle.

Your child's aggression requires good parenting techniques

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in parenting issues on Friday, May 8, 2020.

There are many parenting challenges that people face in today's world, and they may be even more complex when you add a divorce to the mix. You're learning to be a single parent, and that is hard. Even though your ex-spouse is also parenting your children, there are bound to be times when you run into issues.

Something that many parents deal with during and following a divorce is a child's aggression. You need to remember that children may not be sure how to handle the emotions they're feeling. This is new territory for them. Your ex-spouse may have their way of dealing with your child's negative behaviors, and you may have your own.

Why should you work with a forensic accountant?

On behalf of Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, LLP posted in complex property division on Friday, May 1, 2020.

When you get a divorce, it can be hard to know how to divide your property. It can be even more difficult if there is property that you don't know exists. Some kinds of property, like digital assets, can be harder to identify. For example, your spouse may have been investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies that you're not aware of.

Part of the divorce process is working out where all your assets are. You and your spouse will be expected to report your assets. You need to disclose everything you possess (within reason, of course). To do this, you may want to work with a forensic accountant, especially if you have many assets online that you may have forgotten about.