2021 Practice Under the California Family Code

[Source: CEB]

Top family law attorney Christopher C. Melcher authors a chapter in 2021 Practice Under the California Family Code: Dissolution, Legal Separation, Nullity.

This publication will help you gain a complete command of everything needed to handle dissolution, legal separation, nullity, and parentage actions from both judicial and attorney perspectives—kept current with the latest cases, legislation, and court rules.

The highlights formerly included in a companion pamphlet have now been integrated into the text.

• Petitioning and responding
• Handling evidentiary issues and presentations
• Obtaining temporary and longer orders
  
  • Child custody, visitation, and parentage
  • Child and spousal support
  • Attorney fees/costs; and DVPA related
• Modifying and enforcing orders
• Complying with mandatory disclosure and discovery rules
• Characterizing, valuing, and dividing property
• Addressing bankruptcy, immigration, psychological, and ethical issues in family law cases

Click here for more information and to order the book

• I.  SCOPE OF CHAPTER  6.1
• II.  TEMPORARY SUPPORT
  
  • A.  When Available  6.2
  • B.  Determining Amount
    
    • 1.  Approach Generally  6.3
    • 2.  Use of Guideline Formula  6.4
  • C.  Duration  6.5
  • D.  Modification, Termination, or Set Aside  6.6
• III.  LONG-TERM SUPPORT
  
  • A.  Statutory Authority  6.7
  • B.  Considerations in Making Award  6.8
    
    • 1.  Must Be Based on Marital Standard of Living  6.9
    • 2.  Circumstances Court Must Consider  6.10
  • C.  Retention of Jurisdiction  6.11
  • D.  Forms of Orders  6.12
    
    • 1.  Modifiable Amount for Indefinite Term  6.13
    • 2.  Modifiable Amount for Definite Term  6.14
    • 3.  Modifiable Amount for Specified Period; Reservation of Jurisdiction  6.15
    • 4.  Modifiable Amount for Specified Period; Burden on Supported Party to Avoid Termination  6.16
    • 5.  Decreasing Amounts  6.17
    • 6.  No Amount Payable Now; Reservation of Jurisdiction  6.18
    • 7.  Jurisdiction Terminated  6.19
  • E.  Modification
    
    • 1.  Statutory Authority  6.20
    • 2.  Limitations on Court’s Authority
      
      • a.  Judgment in Short-Term Marriage That Neither Awards Support Nor Reserves Jurisdiction  6.21
      • b.  Parties’ Agreement Precluding Modification  6.22
      • c.  Order for Definite Term  6.23
    • 3.  Change of Circumstances Requirement  6.24
    • 4.  Effect of Particular Changes
      
      • a.  Supporting Party’s Ability to Pay  6.25
      • b.  Supported Party’s Nonmarital Cohabitation  6.26
      • c.  Termination of Child Support  6.26A
  • F.  Termination  6.27
• IV.  TAX ASPECTS
  
  • A.  Requirements for Payments to Be Includable in Payee’s Gross Income and Deductible by Payer (Prior to 2019)  6.28
    
    • 1.  Payments in Cash  6.29
    • 2.  Received by or on Behalf of Spouse or Former Spouse  6.30
    • 3.  Received Under Judgment, Written Agreement, or Order  6.31
    • 4.  Not Designated as Nontaxable  6.32
    • 5.  If Judgment Entered, Parties Must Not Be Members of Same Household  6.33
    • 6.  No Liability for Payments or Substitute for Payments After Payee’s Death  6.34
    • 7.  Not Fixed as Payable for Child Support; Possibility of Family Support  6.35
    • 8.  No Joint Return  6.36
  • B.  Recapture of Front-Loaded Spousal Support  6.37