You picture your fifties as the years when you finally get ahead: fewer debts, more savings, and some breathing room after decades of work. Your partner pictures those same years as the time to stop working altogether. Neither vision is automatically wrong. But they...

Five Financial Conversations Every Engaged Couple Should Have Before They Get Married Most couples spend months planning the perfect wedding, but very little time planning the financial side of marriage. In my experience, that's backwards. As a California family law...

When people think about divorce and a business, they often picture a company owned by one spouse. In reality, many successful businesses have investors, multiple owners, boards, operating agreements, or shareholder restrictions. If that's your situation, you're...

fter years of practicing California family law, I've learned something important: most divorces don't begin because people planned to fail. They begin because couples never had honest conversations about the issues that matter most. When you're engaged, it's easy to...

One of you researches a $75 purchase for three days. The other books a weekend getaway because the hotel looked cute on Instagram. One feels secure watching the savings account grow. The other feels that if you work hard, you should enjoy the money you earn. Neither...

Business owners are often surprised by how much attention their company receives once a divorce begins. One of the first questions I hear is, 'Can my spouse look at my business records?' The answer is that business records may become relevant depending on the issues...

For many executives and professionals, one of the biggest concerns isn't just what happens in court—it's what happens at work. I've represented clients who were far more worried about protecting the careers they spent decades building than arguing over furniture or...

Can Parents Disagree About Therapy for Their Child in California? Few custody disputes are more emotional than disagreements over a child's mental health. One parent believes therapy is essential. The other thinks it isn't necessary, worries about the diagnosis, or is...

Walking into family court for the first time can be intimidating. Many clients tell me they haven't slept, they've read everything they can online, and they're convinced something dramatic is going to happen. The reality is usually much less dramatic. While every case...

If you're a business owner, your customer relationships may be among your company's most valuable assets. I've had clients ask whether a spouse can demand copies of customer lists, contracts, pricing information, or other confidential business records during a...