Source: https://store.ceb.com/california-child-and-spousal-support-establishing-modifying-and-enforcing
Timestamp: 2019-10-15 18:37:04
Document Index: 672517416

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2030', '§2030', '§2030', '§2', '§2032', '§6', '§3910', '§1', '§2', '§401', '§2', '§4058', '§4059', '§2', '§9', '§4058', '§3', '§9', '§351', '§351', '§1', '§6', '§4324', '§6', '§7', '§8', '§12']

approx. 550 pages, looseleaf, updated 8/19
c. Voluntary Declaration of Parentage 1.36
15. Convictions for Domestic Violence 8.29
C. Form: Order to Show Cause (UIFSA) (Judicial Council Form FL-515) [Deleted] 11.41
If a party requests attorney fees under Fam C §2030(a), the trial court must make explicit findings on the issues listed in Fam C §2030(a)(2), which include whether there is a disparity in access to funds to retain counsel, and whether one party is able to pay for legal representation of both parties. Fam C §2030(a)(2). If those findings demonstrate a disparity in access and ability to pay, the court must make an order awarding attorney fees and costs. Marriage of Morton (2018) 27 CA5th 1025. See §2.71.
By requiring consideration of the parties’ circumstances relative to each other, Fam C §2032 authorizes a need-based fee award even if the party requesting fees can pay his or her own attorney fees. Marriage of Ciprari (2019) 32 CA5th 83. See §6.14.
Adult child support. A trial court did not err by finding that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a triable issue of fact as to an adult child’s incapacity and lack of means after a motorcycle accident under Fam C §3910 when he was able to continue the same employment that he held before the accident. Lederer v Gursey Schneider LLP (2018) 22 CA5th 508. See §1.7.
Analysis of financial information. A trial court’s use of a 2013 income tax return as a sole measure of income when modifying temporary child and spousal support when a more recent one was available was an abuse of discretion and resulted in a reversal of a support award. Marriage of Ciprari (2019) 32 CA5th 83. See §2.43.
An optional deduction, such as a contribution to an IRC §401(k) account, should be included in a support calculation as an adjustment to income, because the contribution is income but is not presently taxed. In addition, a parent’s state and federal income tax refunds must be added to his or her annual net disposable income when that parent’s income tax withholdings and estimated income tax payments have been deducted from his or her gross income. Marriage of Morton (2018) 27 CA5th 1025. See §§2.48, 3.32.
A deduction for the depreciation of motor vehicles in the calculation of business income available to pay child support is disallowed, since the asset depreciation does not actually reduce a parent’s available income or come within the scope of any specific deduction permitted under Fam C §4058 or §4059. Marriage of Rodriguez (2018) 23 CA5th 625. See §§2.52, 3.39.
Arrearages. A lump-sum benefits payment may be credited retroactively against support already paid in order to avoid a parent’s overpayment of support. Y.H. v M.H. (2018) 25 CA5th 300. See §9.5.
Calculation of child support. Compensation from vested and matured stock options must be included in gross income for purposes of calculating child support under Fam C §4058(a)(1), regardless of whether the parent elects to exercise the option and sell shares of stock. Marriage of Macilwaine (2018) 26 CA5th 514. See §§3.12, 3.55.
A lump-sum benefits payment may be credited retroactively against child support already paid in order to avoid a parent’s overpayment of support. Y.H. v M.H. (2018) 25 CA5th 300. See §9.5.
Effective May 18, 2018, Evid C §351.3(a) generally precludes the disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court by a party or his or her attorney unless the judge presiding over the matter first determines that the evidence is admissible in an in camera hearing requested by the party seeking disclosure of the person’s immigration status. The circumstances presented in each case should be evaluated to determine whether the exceptions or provisions in Evid C §351.3(b) apply. See Stats 2018, ch 12, §1. See also §6.26B.
Legislation effective January 1, 2019, adds “domestic violence felony” to the type of conviction that will trigger protections against a victim paying an abuser spousal support. To protect spouses who were convicted of felony domestic violence but were actually the abused spouse, the law also authorizes the court to make a fact-based determination and decline to apply select provisions. These changes only apply to convictions that occur on or after January 1, 2019. See Fam C §§4324.5, 4325 (Stats 2018, ch 850). See also §§6.26A, 7.27, 8.29.
The trial court retains an inherent authority to reconsider a temporary spousal support order on its own motion, in order to correct an error. Marriage of Spector (2018) 24 CA5th 201. See §§7.4, 8.1.
When support is governed by a marital settlement agreement or stipulated judgment that does not explicitly limit or waive the change of circumstances rule, the trial court’s changed-circumstances determination must give effect to the intent and reasonable expectations of the parties as expressed in the agreement. Marriage of T.C. & D.C. (2018) 30 CA5th 419. See §8.18.
Set asides. The failure of the parties to actually provide their declarations of disclosure despite a stipulation averring they did so constituted a mistake of fact justifying the set-aside of a judgment. Marriage of Binette (2018) 24 CA5th 1119. See §12.26.
Katie Burke is an associate with The Wald Law Group, P.C. in San Francisco. She is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from Fairfield University (Connecticut), her Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Christine N. Donovan is the Child Support Commissioner for Contra Costa County Superior Court. Previously, Ms. Donovan was a senior staff attorney with Solano County Superior Court where she handled family law and probate matters. She served on the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee from 2013 to 2016. Ms. Donovan has been published in the Harvard Women’s Law Journal and in other Continuing Education of the Bar publications, has served as faculty for several continuing education programs for the Judicial Council of California and other organizations, and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She received her B.A. (with highest honors) from the University of California, Davis, in 1999 and her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2002. Ms. Donovan is a coauthor of California Child Custody Litigation and Practice (Cal CEB).
Neil M. E. Forester is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a shareholder at Forester Purcell Inc. in Folsom. His experience in family law custody matters includes obtaining initial custody orders, modifying custody orders pre- and post-judgment, and working with international custody clients on cases under the Hague Convention. He received his J.D. (with Distinction) from Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 2004, where Mr. Forester currently serves as an adjunct professor teaching Family Law Trial Skills. He is a contributing author of California Child Custody Litigation and Practice (Cal CEB) and Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB), as well as a member of CEB’s Family Law Advisory Committee.
Raymond R. Goldstein is the managing partner of the Center for Enforcement of Family Support, a private law firm in Culver City dedicated to the collection of past-due child and spousal support and related marital obligations. Mr. Goldstein served as the chair of the Family Law Section Executive Committee of the State Bar Association (FLEXCOM) during the 2014–2015 term, and presently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Goldstein is a frequent lecturer for state and local family law bar and associations, law schools, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is active in legislative reform and has contributed to various print, radio, and television programming as an expert in judgment enforcement. He is the author of numerous California State Bar and CEB articles and publications, including Enforcing Civil Money Judgments (Cal CEB Action Guide), and served as an update author of numerous chapters in Debt Collection Practice in California (2d ed Cal CEB). He received his J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles in 1993.
Christopher C. Melcher is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a partner with the law firm Walzer & Melcher, LLP, with offices in Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills. Mr. Melcher’s practice is focused exclusively on family law. He is a current member (and Vice-Chair elect) of the Executive Committee of the State Bar’s Family Law Section (FLEXCOM) and a member of the Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Melcher has lectured extensively on family law topics, presented numerous programs for the State Bar’s Family Law Section, and served as a continuing moderator for CEB’s annual Family Law Conference. He is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). He earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge, and his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Shanon K. Quinley maintains a solo law practice in Pasadena, with an emphasis on family law. She is an active member of the Family Law Sections of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the State Bar. Ms. Quinley is a member of CEB’s Family Law Advisory Committee and is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
Esther Rosenfeld is the owner and principal of Rosenfeld Family Law, P.C. in San Jose, and practices family law exclusively in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. She handles a full spectrum of family law issues, offering traditional litigation as well as mediation and co-mediation services. She is a member of the San Mateo and Santa Clara County Bar Associations, a past president of the San Mateo County Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and a member of the San Mateo County Family Court’s Family Law Advisory Committee. She serves on the Santa Clara County Judge pro tem panel and is a volunteer mediator in the family court. She is also a member of the State Bar’s Family Law Section and formerly served on its Family Law Executive Committee (FLEXCOM). She has been featured on radio station KALW’s “Your Legal Rights” program speaking about California family law issues, and on the Internet-based radio program “Business Leaders Spotlight” speaking about divorce. She is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, was voted a “Northern California SuperLawyer” and one of the “Top Women Attorneys of Northern California” by California SuperLawyers magazine, and “Top Lawyers in California” by American Lawyer Media. Ms. Rosenfeld is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law.
Jennifer F. Wald is a member of the Lakin Spears, LLP Family Law Group and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Her practice is devoted exclusively to family law with an emphasis on complex financial issues. She practices in both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Before joining Lakin Spears in October 1992, Ms. Wald practiced at Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe in San Francisco. She was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for 2010, and has been named a “Northern California SuperLawyer” every year since 2005. Ms. Wald is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She also is the coauthor of the article “Equitable Apportionment of a Separate Property Business,” published by the State Bar’s Family Law News. Ms. Wald also speaks at family law seminars. She earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University.
Terry S. Wheeler practices law in Oakland as an associate of the Law Office of Sylvia Woods, with an emphasis in family law. She is a contributing author of Dissolution Strategies: From Intake to Judgment (Cal CEB) and of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco and her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.
Christine N. Donovan is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Child Support Commissioner at the Contra Costa County Superior Court. She served on the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. Ms. Donovan is the update author for chapters 6 and 12. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Neil M. E. Forester is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a shareholder at Forester Purcell Inc. in Folsom. Mr. Forester is the update coauthor for chapter 11. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Raymond R. Goldstein is the managing partner of the Center for Enforcement of Family Support, a private law firm in Culver City dedicated to the collection of past-due child and spousal support and related marital obligations. Mr. Goldstein is the update author for chapters 9–10. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Christopher C. Melcher is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a partner with the law firm Walzer & Melcher, LLP, with offices in Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills. Mr. Melcher is the update author for chapters 7–8. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Shanon K. Quinley maintains a solo law practice in Pasadena, with an emphasis on family law. Ms. Quinley is the update author for chapter 2. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Esther Rosenfeld is the owner and principal of Rosenfeld Family Law, P.C. in San Jose, and practices family law exclusively in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Ms. Rosenfeld is the update author for chapter 4. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Jennifer F. Wald is a member of the Lakin Spears, LLP Family Law Group and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Ms. Wald is the update author for chapter 3. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.