Selected Topics – About California Family Law

California family law is the field of legal practice that deals with family and domestic relations. The Law Firm of Hosford & Hosford focuses on family law concerns, including our clients’ legal relationships, rights, and obligations.

Cases may involve any of these issues.

Divorce and legal separation: Divorce (also called “dissolution of marriage” or “dissolution of domestic partnership” in California family law) is a legal process that returns people to the status of single persons after they were legally joined. Legal separation does not end a marriage or domestic partnership but allows the parties to get court orders about money, property, and parenting issues.

Domestic partnerships: Hosford & Hosford assists clients with forming, terminating, and dissolving domestic partnerships (defined as a legal relationship between two adults of the same sex or qualifying opposite sex couples).

Prenuptial agreements: California family law provides an avenue for two people who are entering into a marriage, civil union, or similar relationship to establish the division of property, spousal support, and other issues in the event of a divorce.

Annulment: An annulment is a legal determination that a marriage or domestic partnership is not valid. To be granted an annulment, the relationship must meet certain requirements (for example, if one of the parties was underage when the couple married.)

Spousal support: This is the court-ordered financial support paid by one spouse to another after the two divorce. Hosford & Hosford regularly represents clients in cases to protect their financial resources or to secure ongoing financial support.

Child custody and visitation: Either through settlement or litigation in a California family law court, these cases determine the ongoing authority, obligations, and access that each parent has to children from the marriage.

Child support: Child support is the money that the non-custodial parent pays to the other parent. A static formula determines this amount, but clients often seek legal representation to ensure that the values used in the formula are fair and accurate.

Post-judgment modifications: If the circumstances for either party in a divorce change—for example, if someone loses his job and is unable to pay spousal support—the party may seek to change the terms of the court order.

Post-judgment enforcement: When one party does not follow through on his or her legal obligations, such as paying child support, Hosford & Hosford helps clients enforce the legal judgment. This may include garnishing wages or placing liens against property.

Domestic violence: Domestic violence cases deal with abuse or threats of abuse between two people in a close relationship. Hosford & Hosford works with clients to obtain restraining orders and orders of protection, and we help clients combat false allegations of domestic violence.

Paternity: California family law cases dealing with paternity establish who a child’s legal parents are. The outcome of a paternity case allows a person to pursue parental rights or enforce the parent’s duties and obligations.

Guardianship: Guardianship cases can grant a non-parent physical and legal custody of a child.

If you are involved in a case that concerns one or more of these issues, contact Hosford & Hosford. Meeting with an experienced SLO divorce lawyer or family law attorney will help you to explore your legal options.

Call Hosford & Hosford at (805) 439-1906 or toll-free at (855) 675-4496.