Family Law Blog

For most couples, retirement accounts represent the largest asset they own besides their home. When your marriage ends, these accounts don’t just disappear from the property division conversation, they’re right in the middle of it. Understanding how California treats retirement savings matters. Community Property Rules In California Here’s how it works. California follows community property […]

Spousal support in California isn’t a one-size-fits-all arrangement. You’re actually dealing with two completely different types, and knowing which one applies to you can change everything about your divorce strategy and financial planning. Working with a Stanislaus County family lawyer ensures that you are best equipped to handle these situations. Understanding Temporary Spousal Support When […]

California law considers inheritance separate property. It belongs only to the spouse who received it, whether that’s cash, real estate, investment accounts, or your grandmother’s jewelry collection. Unlike most assets you acquire during marriage, inheritance doesn’t automatically fall under community property rules. The catch is that what you do with that inheritance after you receive […]

When you’re facing divorce, one of the first questions you’ll encounter is whether yours will be contested or uncontested. These terms determine everything from how long your divorce takes to how much it costs. At Attorney Bernie, we’ve handled both types in Stanislaus County, and understanding the difference helps you know what you’re walking into. […]

Most parents going through custody battles assume their kids will stay together. California courts think the same way. The sibling bond carries real weight in child development, and judges bend over backward to keep brothers and sisters in the same home. But it does happen sometimes. At Attorney Bernie, we’ve worked through plenty of custody […]

Child support in California is usually calculated based on regular salary or wages. Pretty straightforward. But what happens when a parent’s income jumps around because of commissions, bonuses, or overtime that changes every month? That’s exactly where Smith Ostler orders come into play. At Attorney Bernie, we help parents figure out whether these specialized support […]

Legal custody determines who gets to make major decisions about your child’s life. It’s separate from physical custody, which controls where your child actually lives. At Attorney Bernie, we help parents in Santa Clara County understand these distinctions because they fundamentally shape their relationship with their child after divorce or separation. What Legal Custody Actually […]

Trust funds add serious complications to divorce cases. Whether you’re the beneficiary of a family trust or you established one yourself, understanding how California courts treat these assets can make a massive difference in your settlement. At Attorney Bernie, we’ve handled plenty of high-asset divorces involving trusts, and the outcome depends heavily on what type […]

When you’re stepping in to care for a child who isn’t biologically yours, California gives you two main legal options. Both guardianship and adoption let you provide a home and make decisions for a child, but they’re fundamentally different in ways that matter long term. At Attorney Bernie, we help families in Stanislaus County figure […]

When your marriage isn’t working, you’ve got two main legal options in California. You can file for divorce, or you can pursue legal separation. Both processes address property division, spousal support, and custody issues, but they lead to very different outcomes. At Attorney Bernie, we help clients in Stanislaus County understand which path makes the […]