Vista Family Law Blog
Will your divorce affect your teen’s financial aid for college?
Divorce can have a significant impact on a family's financial picture, and that includes how financial aid for college is determined. If you have a teenager who will soon be applying to college, it's important to understand how divorce may affect their eligibility...
Can you get custody back? What to know after a court decision
If a judge decided you should no longer have custody, it likely came down to serious concerns about the child’s safety or stability or because you failed to meet their needs. However, it’s not the end of the road. You can regain custody, depending on your specific...
How does a spouse’s lifestyle impact spousal support in CA?
When a couple divorces in California, spousal support—often referred to as alimony—may come into play. One of the factors that can impact the amount and duration of spousal support is the lifestyle the couple maintained during the marriage. Understanding how a...
3 tips for telling your spouse you would like to divorce
Do you think it’s time to talk to your spouse about a potential divorce? Maybe you’ve been considering it for a while, and recent events have made you realize that it’s necessary. The way that you have this conversation can go a long way toward determining if the...
What do you do when child support isn’t enough?
When your child support payments fail to meet your children's actual needs, the inadequate support can significantly impact their quality of life and opportunities. You aren’t in an uncommon situation. The needs of a child can change dramatically over time. If there...
Is splitting dog custody harder than splitting the house?
Divorce can be messy. However, it gets even more complicated when there is a beloved pet involved. For many couples, their dog is not “just a pet”—it is family. Figuring out who gets to keep the dog can feel more emotional than deciding who gets the car or even the...
Addressing four common California child support questions
Children deserve financial support from both parents. Child support laws prioritize balancing the financial capabilities of parents and the child's needs, but most parents still have concerns. Learning how the system works in California can help alleviate some of your...
What are the drawbacks of birdnesting?
Birdnesting is a somewhat rare child custody arrangement in which children continue to live in the family home after divorce. The parents are given a custody schedule, and they move in and out of the house in accordance with this arrangement. When people talk about...
How is property divided in a California divorce?
It is important to understand the laws surrounding property division when going through a divorce. Property division is often one of the most complicated aspects of divorce, causing stress and sometimes fear over what a financial future may look like. Community and...
Do you need to go to court for a contested divorce in California?
Not necessarily. A “contested” divorce generally refers to a situation where the parties disagree on one or more key issues about their divorce settlement. This can include division of property and debts, child custody, spousal support and more. In most cases, both...