Kids: Coping with Divorce
Your children belong to both you and your spouse, no matter how messy a divorce is or becomes. Kids need the support and reassurance from both parents so that they can be less confused about the complicated divorce situation.
With divorce comes a whole new life, a new living situation, and new emotions. A once happy, complete family is now one that is splintered and filled with many new emotions and tensions. You need to sit down with your children and discuss the following things:
What are we going to do now?
Children have insecurities of the future and may be wondering where they will be going to school, will they see their friends, or if they can see their other parents. Why not put those fears to rest. Prepare the answers to any number of practical questions that would children may ask you, and keep your answers consistent.
Emotions
Children have just as many emotions as adults. They may think that they hate you, that they are depressed, sad, angry, or scared. Whatever the case may be, you need to let your children know that you understand what they are feeling and they can talk to you when they need to.
Keeping a Stable life
Come up with ways to keep your life as stable and consistent as possible. Your children need this to move on from this traumatic situation.
Speak to a San Diego Divorce Lawyer
Taking any steps towards a divorce is a difficult thing to do. For information on how to take those first steps, contact the San Diego divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP. Call us at 858-935-6211.
Mike's Top FAQs About Child Custody
401K plans and divorce401K plans and divorce
Question Detail
If my spouse waives his right to my 401k plan, is there any circumstance that the court will still award him half or a portion of my 401k plan?
Answer
It is theoretically possible that a court can disturb an agreement to waive rights to property, but it is unlikely. Courts will generally treat agreements as contracts, and thus are likely to strike an agreement only if it is unconscionable, induced by fraud, undue influence, duress or is against public policy. The judge cannot “reject,” nullify, or modify the provisions of an agreement merely because of his or her personal belief that a different arrangement should be made.
A marital settlement agreement, or MSA, can be used as a contract between spouses regarding the division of property that would otherwise be subject to community property laws. An MSA is subject to general contract laws, meaning that it can be found invalid if terms are against public policy (which includes, but is not limited to, (a) abrogating the statutory child support duty or impinging on the court’s jurisdiction to award child support, (b) limiting the court’s exercise of child custody jurisdiction, (c) “altering legal relations,” (d) “promoting dissolution,” and (e) providing for “fault”-based penalties at marriage dissolution) . The MSA can also be found invalid if entered into as a result of fraud, duress, menace, undue influence, or other factors which may make the agreement void or invalid. Generally, an agreement such as the MSA is favored. Hence, if there are no legal or equitable grounds for rescission or reformation it is binding on the parties and the court without express approval.
Posted in: Divorce, Family Law, Property Division
Can I get child support in California if I am not getting a divorce?
Question Detail
I have been separated for two years from my wife, and my kids live with me. Can I get support without filing for divorce in California? We have not been living together since our separation, and even file taxes separately.
Answer
You do not need to file for divorce in order to get support. You will need to go through the court to obtain a child support order so you will have to file something. You can contact your local Department of Child support services office and they can help you get started. So while you do not have to file for divorce, you can file for a legal separation. The court needs to know that you two have in fact separated and there is one parent who is the full time provides and therefore in need of support.
Posted in: Child Support, Divorce, Family Law
Can I move out with my daughter before the divorce in California?
Question Detail
My wife and I are going to divorce, but we have not filed yet. We are always fighting, and my daughter, who is 7, is very stressed with the way we are living. Can I move out with her, if I do not move far away and let him see her all the time? He is not happy with my choice. Is this legal?
Answer
Yes, you can move out with your daughter, assuming there are no court orders already in place regarding custody and visitation. It is important to maintain frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent. When the court makes custody and visitation orders they will look highly upon the parent who facilitated contact with the child and the other parent. It is important to make the transition as easy as possible for the child.
Posted in: Divorce, Family Law
Question: Is there a statute of limitations on owed child support?
Question Detail
An ex lover of mine (20 years ago) just approached me out of nowhere about getting tested to see if her son is my child. He is 20 and I live in California. I am trying to find the statue of limitations for child support if indeed I take the test and the child turns out to be mine.
Answer
Unless the mother has made a claim for child support with the welfare office or her local Department of child support services office, they cannot now collect from you on child support. Since he is no longer a minor child now that he is emancipated, there are no obligations for child support. You can get tested to see if you are the father, but you do not have to.
If the state has paid out welfare for the child, and it turns out that you are the Father, there can be some potential liability there with having to pay back the state the money they paid out. If this is not an issue, then they cannot now ask you to pay for child support.
Posted in: Enforcement, Family Law, Spousal Support / Alimony
Is the opinion of the child ever taken into consideration in a divorce?
Answer
Typically the Courts will take the child’s opinion into consideration at the age of 12. There is no set age, it depends on the maturity level of the child. If a child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent preference to custody the court can take it into consideration. It is important to note that all judges will rule for what is in the child’s best interests whether it be for the mother or the father.
Posted in: Child Custody, Divorce, Family Law
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