Mel Gibson’s Wife Files For Divorce
Mel Gibson’s Wife Files For Divorce
The website recently reported in a story that the wife of actor and producer Mel Gibson has filed for divorce in California. The filing comes after 28 years of marriage and the divorce papers cite irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup. Gibson confirmed the divorce filing in a statement issued through his publicist, which read: “Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy…
Read MoreU.S. Marriage & Divorce Statistics
The latest marriage and divorce statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics cover the calendar year 2005. In that year, there were approximately 2,230,000 marriages in 2005 -- down from 2,279,000 the previous year. The divorce rate in 2005 (per 1,000 people) was 3.6 -- the lowest rate since 1970. Divorce rates across states varied greatly. In 2004, the state with the highest reported…
Read MoreGrounds for Divorce in California
In the past, California divorce law declared that a “dissolution of marriage” could only be granted under very specific circumstances. Extreme situations like adultery or mental cruelty were considered valid reasons for divorce. All of that changed, however with the application of statute no. 2310 in 1970, mentioned in this report, which states: 2310. Dissolution of the marriage or legal separation of the parties may be based on either of…
Read MoreCalifornia Family Law Attorney Fees, Who Pays Them?
California has a unique family law statute, California Family Code Section 271, which was instituted to promote cooperation between divorcing parties. Specifically, it allows judges to levy ‘sanctions’ against parties whose conduct might frustrate the discovery process, reduce litigation costs or lead to settlement of litigation. California Family Code Section 271, in part, states: “the court may base an award of attorney's fees and costs on the extent to which…
Read MoreSame Sex Marriages Gradually Gain Legal Ground
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times examined the national trend in Family Law courts supporting the rights of same sex couples despite the fact that many states do not recognize same-sex marriages. Despite this lack of acknowledgment, court decisions on child custody, divorce and other issues are giving increased rights to same-sex couples. The trend of legally married, same-sex couples moving from their home states to states that…
Read MoreIs Economy Affecting Divorce Rates?
A recent story asks the question of whether or not the economy is affecting divorce rates in the country. The answer appears to be - yes. Across the nation, divorces are down, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. It seems that when times are rough, more couples choose to tough it out. Not so much for love, but for money. The article goes on to explain that with…
Read MoreOut-of-Wedlock Births Hit Record High
A recent article on discusses out-of-wedlock births in the U.S., which according to the report, is at a record high. Nearly 40 percent of babies born in the United States in 2007 were delivered by unwed mothers, according to data released last month by the National Center for Health Statistics. The 1.7 million out-of-wedlock births, of 4.3 million total births, marked more than 25 percent from five years before. The…
Read MoreThe World’s First Divorce by Facebook
In an unusual article from The Daily News by Catey Hill, we find the story of Emma Brady, who found out through an update on the social networking site “Facebook” that her husband was divorcing her. Brady, a 35-year-old conference organizer, claims that she found out that her husband wanted a divorce via Facebook. She said that her friend was looking at Facebook and discovered that Brady's husband, a 39-year-old…
Read MoreCalifornia Juvenile Dependency Matters: Why It Is Important To Hire A Private Attorney
It is important to have a private attorney represent you in any matter you have in Dependency Court. If you do not retain private counsel you will be appointed an attorney who will represent you. The court appointed attorneys are overloaded with cases and do not have extra time to put into your case. An example of this is the case of In Re R.M. and S.M. v. J.M. In…
Read MoreModification of Child Support in California
An article on the website discusses the types of family law court orders in California that are most often amended, or ‘modified’. The 3 types of orders the article discusses are: Child Custody/Visitation Orders, Child Support orders, and Spousal Support orders. Child Custody/ Visitation Order Modification When the court finds a modification of the visitation schedule or child custody order to be “necessary or proper” and in the child’s best…
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