When you want to get a divorce in California, you need to provide a reason for ending your marriage. However, the reason does not need to involve fault. You don’t have to prove someone did something wrong. You can request a no-fault divorce on the grounds of “irreconcilable differences.”

What does this mean and how do you prove it? As a legal team with over 300 years of combined experience protecting the interests of clients during and after divorce, we have seen a wide range of situations that qualify. In this post, we will explain what irreconcilable differences are in a legal sense and the effect of using these differences as the grounds for your divorce.

Looking at the Statute

To determine legal obligations, it is usually necessary to look at both statutes governing an issue and the way that the courts have interpreted those statutes. With regard to the grounds for divorce, Section 2310 of the California Family Code specifies that there are only two reasons a court can grant dissolution of marriage, which is the official term for divorce. A spouse who wants a divorce must either request a dissolution based on “irreconcilable differences” or “permanent legal incapacity.” Since most divorces take place between spouses who are legally competent and coherent, that means that most divorces in California are based on irreconcilable differences.

The statutory section that lists irreconcilable differences as one of two grounds for divorce describes these differences as factors which “have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.” In the next statutory section, lawmakers further explain that “[i]rreconcilable differences are those grounds which are determined by the court to be substantial reasons for not continuing the marriage and which make it appear that the marriage should be dissolved.”

Neither of these descriptions is very specific. So, to discover what irreconcilable differences are in real life, it is helpful to look at some examples from the courts.

What are Irreconcilable Differences?

The term irreconcilable differences as interpreted in California can include a wide range of circumstances. Essentially anything that can justify ending a marriage can be considered irreconcilable differences.

Some examples include:

• Disagreements over spending or debt
• Loss of trust
• Religious differences
• Excessive conflict
• Inadequate communication between spouses
• Infidelity
• Disagreement on parenting issues
• Physical separation due to work
• Intimacy issues
• Disagreements over family matters
• Too much focus on work over personal life

Basically, if you can articulate a reason that you want a divorce, then you can show that you have irreconcilable differences that justify a divorce. You don’t actually need to prove those differences to the court—you just need to tell the court truthfully that such reasons exist. Even if your spouse believes the difficulties can be resolved and disagreements reconciled, if you do not, you can still be granted a divorce.

What Happens When You Divorce on Grounds of Irreconcilable Differences?

One party will start the divorce process when their attorney files a divorce petition in court and legally serves the official paperwork on the other spouse. That party then has a chance to file a legal response.

Both partners will be required to share financial information so that decisions can be made about classifying and dividing property, alimony, child support, and other issues. If your spouse does not want a divorce, they may try to delay the process or refuse to provide information, so your attorney may need to use legal discovery tools to gain the important information.

With that information, attorneys for each spouse can negotiate agreements on all the issues involved. If they can’t reach a mutually agreeable solution on some issues (or any issues) then they will present information to enable the judge to make a decision. Even in a “no-fault” divorce, one spouse can try to bring up bad behavior on the part of the other spouse to try to gain an advantage. It is important to share information honestly with your attorney so that your legal advocate is prepared to make the best arguments to support your goals for property classification, alimony, custody, and other issues.

Experienced Divorce Advocates Work to Secure the Best Possible Outcome in Divorce

At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, we know how to leverage our extensive knowledge and experience into persuasive arguments to gain your objectives in divorce. Irreconcilable differences can make it challenging for spouses to develop mutually acceptable terms for their divorce, but we know how to facilitate productive conversations and negotiate advantageous agreements to achieve a beneficial outcome without unnecessary delays. For a confidential consultation to discuss your needs, call us at  855-426-9111 or contact us online today.

If your divorce is taking too long to finalize because you have not reached an agreement on issues such as property division, alimony, or custody, California law gives you the option of splitting your divorce case into two sections. This is known as bifurcated divorce.

When you bifurcate a divorce, you can regain single status while you work to resolve the remaining issues. This process can be highly beneficial, but there are some factors you should be aware of before you embark on a bifurcated divorce.

How Bifurcated Divorce Works

In a typical divorce process, one spouse files for divorce and serves paperwork on the other spouse, that spouse then responds, and then parties are required to start providing financial information to each other. After sharing information, the parties try to negotiate agreements on how they will divide debts and assets, amounts for alimony and child support, and other issues. This can take considerable time, and when parties cannot reach agreement on their own, they ask the court to make decisions. This takes even more time. While all this time passes, the parties remain married. They remain married until all decision-making is complete and the court issues final orders.

In a bifurcated divorce, one party asks the court to hold a separate legal proceeding that focuses only on marital status. This simple, single-issue proceeding can be completed much more quickly than a divorce case with multiple issues, so you can change your marital status to single much more quickly. However, you will still need to complete the legal process to determine all other issues.

Benefits of Bifurcation

A bifurcated divorce can have significant emotional benefits, and sometimes financial benefits as well. Knowing that you are no longer married to an abusive, controlling spouse can enable you to move forward with more confidence. It can also stop a spouse from continuing to engage in delaying tactics with regard to finalizing the divorce.

If you want to remarry, a bifurcated divorce allows you to do so legally.

With regard to financial issues, a bifurcated divorce allows you to file your taxes as a single, rather than married taxpayer, and for some people, this is preferred. If either spouse files for bankruptcy, bifurcation can allow the divorce to continue at the same time that bankruptcy details are in progress.

Requirements for a Bifurcated Divorce

If you want to ask the court for a bifurcated divorce, you need to wait at least six months after the responding spouse (the spouse who did not file for divorce) was served with divorce papers. Generally, if you file a request sooner than that, it will likely be denied, and even if it is granted, it will not take effect until the six month waiting period has ended.

You must also demonstrate a good reason for asking the court for bifurcation. If your spouse is trying to prevent you from remarrying and is dragging out the process of resolving issues in your divorce, for example, your attorney should be able to argue effectively for a successful bifurcation.

Since other issues have not yet been resolved when a divorce is bifurcated, California law imposes some additional requirements. If one spouse has health insurance through the other spouse’s employer, the spouse providing insurance is obligated to continue to do so in some way. The spouse requesting bifurcation will need to reimburse the other spouse for tax consequences and losing the right to claim a probate homestead or family allowance. If either spouse has a pension plan or retirement account, one spouse may be entitled to receive compensation for the loss of death benefits and the court may need to issue an interim order to preserve one or both spouse’s rights to retirement plan benefits. Essentially, the court needs to ensure that each spouse retains the same rights as they would if the case had not been split, so a judge may order additional conditions if necessary to protect the spouse that did not request bifurcation.

An Experienced Divorce Attorney Can Help You Determine Whether Bifurcated Divorce is Your Best Option

With over 300 years of collective experience, the legal team at Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC has assessed the advisability of bifurcated divorce with many clients in California. We can help you determine if it is the right move in your situation, and if it is, we know how to successfully justify your rationale to the judge. If your spouse is requesting bifurcation, we can ensure your rights remain protected. To learn more about how bifurcation might work in your situation, just schedule a consultation.

Even if you know you’re both thinking about it, and even if you’ve discussed it in the past, when you are finally ready to put an end to your marriage, it can seem incredibly difficult to find the right words. And then there’s the issue of finding the right time and place, as well.

With over 300 years of collective experience handling divorce cases, the team at Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, has seen a wide variety of approaches when it comes to starting the divorce conversation. What works well for one couple may not be the best idea for another, but here are some ideas and factors to consider as you prepare.

Choose a Time and Place Where You Can Focus

Planning to bring up the subject of divorce is a little like planning a surprise party. Even if the sense of anticipation is one of dread rather than joy, you still need to choose the right time and place to spring the surprise. Instead of picking a time when the most people of guests can come, you need a time when the two of you will be alone for long enough to hold a serious discussion. You need a quiet place where you feel safe and comfortable. If you regularly watch TV in the evenings to wind down, this might be a good time, as long as it is not so late that one or both of you are so tired that you can’t think straight. Turn off the TV and put away cell phones to avoid distractions.

If you have kids, you might want to choose an afternoon when you can have a family member or friend watch the kids so that you don’t have to worry about being interrupted. And if you are concerned that your spouse could react violently, make sure you have a plan for your own safety.

Practice Focusing on “I” Instead of “You” When it Comes to Blame

Your conversation needs to be even and rational, to the greatest extent possible. One way to sabotage rationality in a conversation is to introduce blame, and it can happen before you’re even aware of it. You can prevent yourself from being swept into the blame game by making your statements selfish, believe it or not.

Focus on yourself and how you feel. “I don’t like it when you criticize me in front of the kids” is much easier to accept than “you always criticize me in front of the kids,” which sounds like an accusation. Try practicing a few phrases, such as “I get worried when you spend so much money” or “I feel like we’re not equal partners when you disregard my opinions.”

Write Down the Reasons that You Want to End the Marriage

It is natural for a spouse to ask “why” when the other spouse says they want to get a divorce. Even if they know the reasons, they still need to hear it. And that means you need to be prepared. You may have a million reasons that you no longer want to be married, but if you are not prepared to articulate those reasons, you will not be able to give your spouse a satisfactory answer. You both deserve that answer. So write down your reasons, and choose the ones that seem most important and permanent.

You might also write down some things you believe your spouse is unhappy with. If your spouse does not want a divorce, pointing out the issues that make them unhappy in the marriage can help them to agree with the need to end the marriage.

Put Yourself in Your Spouse’s Shoes and Practice What You Want to Say

Try to imagine if you were in your spouse’s position, and consider how you would want to hear the message. Focus on how you can both rebuild better lives going forward. You can write out a speech or just jot down a few words, and then practice delivering your message to the mirror, your phone, or a friend. It doesn’t have to be perfect—in fact, you don’t want to look rehearsed. But you want to feel confident delivering your message, and preparation and practice are the best ways to gain that confidence.

Your Attorney Can Help with Specific Tips to Prepare and Protect Yourself as You Approach Divorce

Divorce is hard, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. When you work with the experienced divorce attorneys at Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, our team can share wisdom gained from experience handling all aspects of divorce. We can provide suggestions and guidance, particularly if you are dealing with a controlling, narcissistic spouse or a partner who might try to hide assets or make your life difficult in other ways. To talk to us about the ways we can assist, call 855-426-9111 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.

When you’re in the middle of divorce proceedings, mentally you may already see yourself as no longer married. You may have shifted your financial focus to a single lifestyle with an emphasis on your children, other family members, or a new partner.

However, your marriage still exists, legally, and that can have a serious impact on your loved ones if you pass away before your divorce is finalized. Here are some factors to consider while your divorce is in progress.

A Bifurcated Divorce Could End Your Marriage Before Your Other Divorce Terms are Settled

It can take a long time to resolve all the issues that need to be settled to complete the divorce process. If you have a business or other complex assets or are going through a contested custody battle, divorce can take well over a year to finalize. However, it is possible to put a legal end to your marriage while the other issues are still being hashed out.

You can split your divorce case into two sections. The court can adjudicate just the issue of marital status and declare that you are no longer married. This can often be accomplished much more quickly than resolving all the divorce issues that are under contention. The Family Law Court will retain jurisdiction over the other issues such as how marital property is classified and divided.

If you obtained a judgment changing the marital status but leaving the other issues under the control of the Family Law Court, and you pass away before the other issues are resolved, then your divorce case would essentially continue after your death. Instead of an attorney representing you in the negotiation over property division, debt allocation, and other issues, the attorney will be representing your personal representative acting on behalf of your estate. However, your death would usually automatically end the court’s jurisdiction over custody, child support, and alimony.

Your former spouse would no longer be the beneficiary of your will, trusts, and retirement plans (although the spouse would get a share of retirement benefits as marital property). If you and your spouse owned property together, your interests in that property would pass to your heirs or beneficiaries, although if your spouse was the beneficiary of your life insurance policies, the end of the marriage would not change that designation.

Incomplete Divorce Proceedings May Have No Impact on Your Estate

Unless the Family Law Court has already adjudicated some issues, everything else pertaining to the divorce loses effect if you pass away before proceedings are finalized. Your estate plans—or lack thereof—would operate the same way as if you were still happily married. Your share of marital property and all your separate property would be distributed to beneficiaries under your will as written, even if everything is set to go to the spouse you wanted desperately to cut ties with. If you don’t have a will, trust, or other estate plans, the California laws of intestate succession will determine who receives your property. Your share of community property would go to your spouse, and some or all of your separate property as well.

Update Your Estate Plan to Protect Your Loved Ones

If you want to protect your children or other loved ones such as a new partner, it is a good idea to create or update your beneficiary clauses and estate planning documents to the extent that the law allows while your divorce is in progress. This includes creating or changing powers of attorney to give someone other than your soon-to-be-former spouse the ability to make medical decisions on your behalf or manage your finances if you become incapacitated.

Couples often create estate plans together, and since you know you are separating your life from that of your spouse, you can go ahead and memorialize that separation in your estate plans now. The law might restrict your ability to change your life insurance beneficiary and other facets of your plan while the divorce is in progress, but talk to an attorney about taking the best available steps to protect your loved ones during and after the divorce.

Holstrom, Block & Park Can Adjust Your Estate Plans While Your Divorce is in Progress

The actions you take in one aspect of your life can and should affect other aspects of your life, and estate planning is no exception. The team at Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC includes not only experienced divorce attorneys but also a legal team dedicated to creating the right estate plans to protect you now and in the future. For questions about divorce or estate planning, call us at 855-426-9111 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today.

Divorce is an intense process that can leave deep emotional and financial scars. You can protect yourself during this process if you gather as much information as possible so that you are prepared to make the right informed decisions for your future. Much of the information you need can be provided by your divorce attorney–but you may need to ask to get it.

At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, we understand the emotional and legal complexities involved in divorce. With 300+ years of collective experience, we can anticipate many of the questions our clients have, but every situation is unique, so there will still be concerns that go unaddressed if clients do not bring them up.

The bottom line is that we encourage you to ask questions to protect yourself. Here we provide some essential questions to start with, but we urge you to add to this list so that you will be able to gain the information you need to come out ahead in your divorce.

Understanding Your Case and Its Potential Outcomes

Many of the essential questions center on one common theme: What are the likely outcomes of my divorce case? Knowing this information helps set realistic expectations. Every divorce is unique, characterized by its circumstances, challenges, and goals. Understanding the potential legal and financial outcomes early on can provide clarity and peace of mind throughout what can often be a complex process. When discussing your case, consider asking your attorney about how the following factors could influence the outcome:

• How will your strategy for my case be tailored to my specific situation? Our approach is always personalized, considering the nuances of your case, from child custody to asset division, but not every attorney follows this type of approach. Asking about strategy ensures you're on the same page with your lawyer.
• How are our assets and debts likely to be divided? California's community property laws will affect your future financial situation in a number of ways. You should find out which property can be classified as your separate property and which property will be divided as marital property. It is also a good idea to ask how your lawyer will work to protect your separate property and obtain your share of marital property that your spouse might claim should be their separate property.
• How long do you expect my divorce to take? Timelines can vary, but we try to give our clients an estimated timeline based on our experience with similar cases, to help plan for the future. Ask your attorney for an overview of the process and the factors that could cause your divorce to procced more quickly or take more time.
• How do you foresee child custody and support being determined in my case? To get an accurate answer, you will need to discuss factors influencing custody decisions and support calculations. When parents agree on arrangements that serve their child's best interests, the process is less contentious and more cost-effective, and often leads to a plan that meets the needs of everyone involved.
• Am I eligible for spousal support, or will I have to pay it? Your attorney should evaluate your situation to provide insights on potential spousal support outcomes. You should prepare to discuss the factors the court considers when determining spousal support, such as the standard of living during the marriage and each spouse's earning capacity. Follow up questions can focus on how much alimony payments might be and how long they should last. This will depend on a variety of factors including the length of your marriage.
• How do you handle disputes that arise during the divorce process? Understanding your attorney’s preferred approach will be crucial to establishing your expectations about the process. At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, we aim to negotiate amicably while being prepared to represent your interests assertively if disputes become contentious. This includes implementing effective negotiation tactics to achieve favorable agreements on contentious issues and developing litigation strategies designed to achieve the best possible outcome in court.

Communicating with Your Lawyer

Your lawyer can serve as a lifeline in many ways during the stress and uncertainty of the divorce process. You need to ask the right questions to keep your relationship on track.

• How will we communicate throughout my case? At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, we prioritize clear and timely communication, ensuring you're informed and involved at every step. But some attorneys set limits on the timing of questions and the preferred mode of communications. For instance, they might prefer that you limit your questions to email on Tuesdays or phone calls on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
• What is the estimated cost of my divorce? While predicting the exact cost is challenging, your attorney should be able to provide an estimate or range after considering various factors such as the case's complexity and duration.
• What are the payment expectations? If you understand when and how payments should be made, you will prevent potential problems later that could interrupt the procession of your case.

Feel Free to Contact Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC with Your Questions

Divorcing in California presents many legal challenges, especially when significant assets or children are involved. Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC is here to help if you need guidance through this complex process. Call us today at 855-426-9111 or online to schedule a consultation with our team. Let us ensure your rights and interests are protected every step of the way.

If you are in the midst of a divorce or planning to get divorced, you’ve probably heard quite a few rumors about the problems you can expect to face. One of them may be the “10 year rule.” Many people believe that once a marriage has lasted for ten years, a spouse automatically becomes eligible to receive alimony indefinitely, but if the marriage was shorter, spouses are barred from seeking alimony, also known as spousal support.

While passing the 10-year mark can affect alimony awards, the effect is nowhere near as dramatic as some people expect. To understand why, we need to look at how spousal support decisions are made under California law.

Alimony is Never Automatic

The only time that an award of alimony is automatic in divorce is when a couple has a pre-or postnuptial agreement specifying alimony arrangements and the factors that trigger those arrangements have been met. In all other cases, a spouse requesting alimony must prove that they need help to become self-supporting.

So, regardless of how long a couple has been married, the court will review a variety of factors to determine whether an award of alimony is appropriate. These factors include:

• The age and health of each spouse
• The income of each spouse
• The current earning capacity of each spouse
• The length of the marriage
• The standard of living during the marriage
• The amount of property and debt each spouse holds independently
• Whether one spouse helped the other obtain an education, training, or professional license
• Any history of abuse during the marriage
• Whether one spouse set aside career to care for the home or children
• The impact that working would have on child-rearing responsibilities

The court will look at how much the spouse requesting support would need to maintain the same lifestyle they enjoyed during the marriage and whether the other spouse has enough resources to make up the difference.

Alimony Can Be Awarded for a Set Period of Time or Last Indefinitely

Generally, courts determine that spousal support payments will only continue for “a reasonable period of time” to enable the lesser-earning spouse to gain the skills or experience to support themselves. There is a general assumption that the longer a couple has been married, the more likely it is that one spouse has focused on building a career and that the other has concentrated efforts on the home, and that therefore the disparity between their earning abilities is greater. For that reason, spousal support awards are generally lengthier in longer marriages, but either spouse can submit evidence to show why that assumption should not apply.

The law specifies that a “reasonable period of time” for an alimony award is generally half the length of the marriage—unless the marriage is “of long duration.” The 10-year rule refers to the fact that when a marriage has lasted ten years or more, it is considered to be a marriage “of long duration” so that the guideline of alimony lasting for half the length of the marriage no longer applies. A court can order alimony to continue indefinitely. But that is rare.

Permanent Alimony Is Not Necessarily Permanent

When some couples hear the word “permanent” in association with alimony, they assume that means that one spouse will be paying spousal support to the other forever. However, often what it means is that the court will retain authority to consider alimony indefinitely. The court may set alimony for a fixed term, but it retains jurisdiction to revise that term—either to extend it or shorten it.

In addition, a court can terminate alimony when one of the following situations occurs:

• The spouse receiving support remarries or cohabits with a new partner
• The spouse paying support reaches age 65 (or more) and retires
• The paying spouse can no longer meet payment obligations dues to no fault of their own
• The spouse receiving support has achieved the ability to become self-supporting
• Either spouse passes away

In addition, spouses can establish their own agreement for alimony, and if they agree that obligations will end at a certain point, either due to time or circumstance, then when they reach that point, alimony obligations should terminate.

An Experienced Divorce Attorney Can Help You Achieve the Right Alimony Arrangements

Whether you are negotiating your own terms in a separation agreement or relying on the court to make the determinations, advice and advocacy from an experienced attorney can make a world of difference in the outcome. At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, our Certified Family Law Specialists and associates understand how to make the most of the factors that weigh in your favor when it comes to alimony determinations and all factors associated with divorce. We invite you to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discuss the ways we can help you emerge from your divorce poised for the best future ahead.

Since California is a community property state, many people assume they know how property will be divided in divorce. However, there are many more factors that play into the process than most people realize.

To protect your interests, it is important to understand your rights when it comes to separate and community property. While you and your spouse are free to develop your own plans for dividing assets and debts, it is helpful to know what the court would do and use that as a starting point for negotiations.

First Things First:  Addressing Property Classification

Before considering how property will be divided in a California divorce, it is essential to understand how property will be classified. Property treated as separate property will not be subject to division at all. The spouse who owns assets as their separate property gets to walk away with those assets free and clear. Property classified as marital or community property, on the other hand, will be divided during the divorce process.

It is in your best interests to locate evidence demonstrating why certain property should be considered solely yours as separate property. Your attorney can help you gather evidence, which may require the assistance of a forensic accountant or other professionals.

What is Separate Property in California?

In general, property that individuals own before they get married is their separate property. Additionally, property that a spouse acquires as a gift (from someone other than their spouse) or through an inheritance or bequest is also considered separate property. So if you want to prove that certain property should not be divided in divorce, it is helpful to look for records proving you owned it before the wedding or that it was given to you individually as a gift or inheritance.

Unfortunately, even that evidence may not be enough to allow you to keep that property without dividing it. That’s because separate property can transform into marital community property during the marriage. If you don’t take specific steps to keep your property separate, then at least some of the value of that property could belong to your spouse.

You can keep property separate by various means such as:

• Executing a pre- or postnuptial agreement specifying that the property will be kept as your separate property
• Keeping separate funds in an individual bank account and not using funds for any marital purposes
• If the property requires upkeep, such as a vehicle or home, avoid using marital funds to pay for maintenance, taxes, insurance, or other expenses

Your attorney can help you develop a plan to maintain the separate nature of your individual property during the marriage. If you don’t take steps to keep the property separate, then a court could determine that any increase in value, at least, is marital community property. If your spouse contributed to the property in some way or if marital funds were mingled with separate funds, you may have to work very hard to separate your share. Without the right arguments and evidence, a court might simply conclude that all of an account or item of property should be treated as marital property.

Marital Property is Divided Evenly in Divorce in California

Anything acquired during the marriage—and any separate property that has transformed into marital property—is considered community property that must be divided between spouses in divorce. In California, marital property is divided equally in a 50/50 split. This includes property such as retirement benefits earned by one spouse.

Marital debts are also divided equally unless you have a written agreement specifying otherwise.

In many cases, you do not actually divide every single asset in half. You can assess the value of all assets and develop a plan to ensure that each spouse receives assets worth an equal value.

All asset division plans can become complicated, particularly when there are assets that may be difficult to value objectively. It is important to work with an attorney who understands the complexities of asset division. If assets include a business, unique real estate, executive compensation, or other intricate property interests, you may want to bring in valuation experts or other specialists to ensure that your interests are fully protected.

Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC Helps You Obtain Advantageous Results in Property Division

As a team of Certified Family Law Specialists and associates, the attorneys at Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC have years of experience working to ensure that clients receive the right allocation of property and debts in their divorce. In fact, we have over 300 years of collective experience to put to work on your behalf. We invite you to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about the ways we can help you achieve your goals in divorce.

While it may feel like a divorce drags on forever, in California, most couples don’t have to wait quite that long until their divorce is finalized. However, there are four major stages to get through, as well as a built in waiting period.

After your divorce attorney has a good idea of what will be involved in your case, your legal advisor should be able to give you a reasonable estimate of the time your divorce will take to conclude. Factors that will impact the length of the process include the degree of conflict involved, the complexity of assets to be divided, the number of complicating issues to be addressed (such as custody, child support and alimony), the need to fulfill residency requirements, and the degree to which each spouse is organized in producing and sharing financial data and other information.

Four Stages to Complete

Couples who are divorcing in California, as well as those who are ending a domestic partnership and obtaining a legal separation, must complete four stages as part of the divorce process. These four stages do not include pre-divorce counseling, which is an excellent way for a spouse to understand what to expect and get a jump start on preparation.

• Initiating the Process

One spouse starts the divorce process by preparing a Petition for Divorce and other required paperwork and filing the documents with the court in the county where they have lived for at least three months. Then that spouse has the Summons legally served on the other spouse, and the other spouse will have 30 days to file a response. Either spouse may ask the court for a temporary order addressing issues such as alimony and custody.

• Sharing Financial Information:

In the next stage, both spouses are expected to compile information about what they earn, how much they spend, how much debt they have, and how much property they own. Some spouses are ready to provide this information quickly while others drag their feet either due to lack of organization or because they want to make the process difficult. Sometimes, spouses attempt to hide assets or unrealistically inflate their expenses, particularly if they own their own business. If this is a potential concern, it is important to work with an attorney who understands how to use forensic accounting and other techniques to discern hidden property.

Initial disclosures are supposed to be due within 60 days of filing the petition and response, but parties may request an extension and may also need to prepare another declaration later.

• Reaching Decisions

Once each spouse has information, then they need to make decisions about issues such as how property is classified and divided, parenting plans for custody and visitation, whether one spouse will pay alimony, amounts of child support, and other matters. Couples can negotiate their own arrangements through various processes with the help of an attorney.

When a couple cannot agree on some or all issues involved in the divorce, they will need to take the issues to trial and have the judge make the decision. This makes the process take considerably longer.

• Finalizing the Divorce

At the end, all the agreements reached, earlier court orders, and other documents are submitted to the court. A judge will review all the paperwork to ensure it is legally acceptable. If there are no problems, the judge will sign a judgment that specifies the date the marriage will come to an end.

Six Months is the Minimum

Even if everything proceeds with lightning speed, a divorce in California will take at least six months because there is a six month waiting period after the filing of the divorce petition. This waiting period cannot be waived. (There is no waiting period for a legal separation, which is why some couples choose this option instead.)

During the six-month waiting period, the spouses can work through the process of sharing information and settling the terms of the divorce so that they are ready to file final paperwork at the time the waiting period is up. As a practical matter, the process rarely concludes this quickly. The average time to complete a no-fault divorce is approximately 15 months. When issues are hotly contested and the court must make most of the decisions, the process can last for years.

The Right Divorce Attorney Can Help You Streamline the Divorce Process

At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, we protect our clients’ interests and keep mindful of their priorities all throughout the divorce process. If your goal is to conclude the process without delay, we can ensure that you are prepared to complete each step and employ strategies to keep your former partner on schedule as well. Our Certified Family Law Specialists and associates know where the process can be maximized to keep your waiting to a minimum. To learn more about how we can help you streamline your divorce, schedule a consultation with our team today.

Because of California’s community property laws, many people believe the process of dividing marital property will be simple and straightforward. After all, the law generally splits these assets equally. So couples often assume that they will not need to expend much effort or thought on the process of dividing marital assets.

However, this assumption fails to take account of the fact that the process of classifying property as marital or separate can be complicated and contentious. Moreover, once they have determined the portion of assets that will be treated as marital, the logistics involved in dividing those assets are often complex and filled with regulatory requirements.

Dividing retirement benefits is one of the most complicated tasks in asset division in California. Because these assets usually represent a significant portion of a couple’s property and the assets have significant emotional value and such a tremendous impact on the future, the process of dividing retirement benefits can cause painful conflict and lead to dissatisfaction. The more you know about the process going in, the better prepared you will be to move forward with the right plan for the future.

Community Property Laws

It is well-known that California is a community property state when it comes to divorce. However, many people misunderstand the meaning of the term. They also forget that federal law often comes into play and that federal law overrides state laws.

In general terms, California community property laws specify that assets and debts acquired between the start date of marriage to the date of separation will be divided equally upon divorce. This is true even if it is property earned through only one spouse’s employment. But as with every general rule, there are exceptions.

Pensions are Complicated in Divorce

In many high-asset California divorces, employment compensation packages and retirement benefits form one of if not the most valuable set of assets at issue in the division of property. An employee may receive many types of benefits that could all potentially be treated as marital property, and pensions are among the most complicated to value and divide in divorce.

Pension benefits are a form of deferred compensation for services rendered during a spouse’s employment, or credits towards future income, to put it more simply. The employment contract will determine when an employee begins to earn those credits. Some employees start to start credit right at the start of employment while others must work a certain period to start accruing credits. The employee may earn credits but not have the right to take them until they become fully vested in the program. This could be a gradual process.

Pensions are different from an IRA or 401(K) plan or other defined contribution plan. In those types of plans, money contributed to the account by the employer or employee can be immediately accessed for borrowing or early withdrawal. With a pension, there is no money in an account. The monthly payments are based on the credits earned and are distributed upon retirement. They are often referred to as defined benefit plans in contrast with the defined contribution plans.

Courts have held that if the right to a retirement benefit accrues at least in part during the marriage (i.e. before separation,) then that benefit is community property and both spouses own an interest in it. The service that earned the benefit was provided during the marriage, thus earning the benefit during the marriage even though will not be paid out until years later.

Social Security Benefits are Governed by Federal Law

Like pension benefits, Social Security retirement and disability benefits are earned through work credit over time and paid out later as periodic payments when an employee reaches retirement age. However, these benefits are subject to federal law rather than California law. Federal law treats Social Security retirement benefits and disability benefits as an employee’s separate property rather than marital property. Social Security benefits are not transferable, nor can they be assigned by the wage earner. A divorcing spouse has no interest in the other spouse’s Social Security benefits.

However, the federal government will allow a divorced spouse to claim derivative benefits if:

• The spouse who earned the benefits is eligible to claim retirement or disability benefits
• The marriage lasted at least 10 years
• The divorced spouse claiming benefits has not remarried
• The divorced spouse claiming benefits is at least 62-years-old
• The benefits the divorced spouse would receive based on their own work history are less than what they would receive through their derivative rights

If a worker’s former spouse receives benefits based on their work history, that will not reduce or in any way impact the benefits that the worker—or the worker’s new spouse—is eligible to receive. Both current and former spouses can receive derivative benefits equal to up to 50% of the worker’s benefit amount.

An Example Showing How Retirement Benefits Can Create an Imbalance in a Divorce

In the landmark case In re Marriage of Peterson, the California Supreme Court ruled that courts must divide community property according to state law and therefore split a wife’s pension even though they could not divide the husband’s social security. The court did note that the parties could have reached their own agreement that would have provided a more equitable outcome, so divorcing spouses need to be aware of any potential inequalities under the law and prepare to negotiate appropriately to protect their interests.

In the Peterson divorce, the difference between the state laws governing pensions and federal laws governing Social Security resulted in an imbalance against Annette Peterson. As a Deputy District Attorney for the county of Los Angeles, Annette was prohibited from contributing to Social Security because, as a county employee, she was a member of the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) Plan E, a defined-benefit retirement plan that paid a pension similar to Social Security.

In the LACERA plans, contributions came from the employer rather than the employees. So instead of contributing to Social Security, Annette kept her income and her employer contributed to her LACERA plan. The amount of benefits paid under the LACERA plan was based on the member’s age at retirement, amount of service credits earned, and the amount of final compensation.

At the time of the divorce, Annette had accumulated more than 14 years of service credits with a value estimated between $200,000 and $216,000. (Because the value is based on the estimate of what would be paid out during her retirement years, the value could not be established exactly because there was no way to predict how long she would remain alive collecting benefits.)

Based on Social Security calculations, the value of John’s Social Security benefits totaled $228,000. Annette argued that the laws governing LACERA pensions and the laws governing Social Security created an imbalance because while the spouses would split her retirement benefits evenly, her husband would receive all of his Social Security retirement benefits and she would receive none. She argued that this gave him 150% of the retirement benefits in the marriage and left her with only 50%.

The trial court ruled in the husband’s favor, so Annette asked the California Supreme Court to correct the imbalance. She suggested several options for creating an equitable solution, including awarding John less than 50% of her LACERA benefits. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s ruling, citing the requirement under California law that community assets be divided equally in a divorce. Since Social Security is separate rather than community property, the court held it could not be divided but that the court was bound to divide property legally considered community property even though it created an unequal division overall.

The Supreme Court then reminded the parties that they were free to develop a more equitable solution not based on strict application of the law which the Court was bound to uphold.

Although since this ruling there have been some adjustments made to the laws to limit this type of imbalance in divorce, spouses and their attorneys need to be aware of the potential for inequitable results so they can strategize accordingly. Depending on the amounts paid into Social Security and the amount of the pension benefit, even with these adjustments, the Peterson case would have resulted in a similar outcome.

Keep the Balance in Mind When You Address Retirement Benefits in a California Divorce

Working with an experienced and savvy divorce attorney or family law mediator in California offers you an opportunity to create balance when the law does not. Both spouses lose when a case becomes contentious--even the spouse who appears to come out ahead in an equitable pension arrangement, as the husband appeared to do in the Peterson case.

Here’s why. The Petersons separated on February 17, 2010 and filed for divorce around that time. They agreed on all aspects of their divorce, including custody, child support, and the division of their other assets and debts. They could have resolved the divorce terms very quickly were it not for the disagreement over the division of the pension.

The issue was tried at the Superior Court (county level) and then appealed to the California Supreme Court. That Supreme Court Ruling was filed January 11, 2016. The Petersons endured nearly six years of uncertainty, court battles, and legal fees.

Because their case had to be tried, not once, but twice because of the appeal, the spouses probably spent well over $50,000 each in legal fees, in addition to other expenses. They had to deal with the stress of a court battle for nearly six years. Was it worth it?

Finding efficient solutions is often more valuable than the costs of fighting for what you feel is right and taking the gamble that it will all be worth it in the end, especially when there are children or grandchildren involved. Often, couples have enough resources to share, particularly in a high-net-worth divorce. The struggle emerges when the emotions or the law create a sense of unfairness.

No one should want to spend $100,000 or more on a divorce, but conflict can drag a case out, sometimes over retirement assets or other property worth less than the legal fees.

Fighting for “legal entitlements” and “the principle of the situation” can make any divorce more damaging than it needs to be. Limiting those damages by working towards a “win-win” agreement can have future rewards in the form of a faster divorce recovery for co-parents, other affected family members, business partners, and even future relationships. Mediation, negotiation, or the collaborative divorce process can help parties develop a cost-effective solution that divides retirement assets quickly and fairly.

Special Handling for Retirement Plans

While retirement assets in 401(k) and similar plans may be easier to value than pension plans, these assets still require special handling during a divorce and parties must be aware of potential tax consequences to keep the division equitable. Often these plans are funded with earnings contribution prior to taxation, so the tax will need to be paid when funds are distributed. The tax liability can be further deferred if the assets are handled properly but if not, one or both spouses could face a substantial tax bill after the divorce.

In addition, it is often necessary to prepare a qualified domestic relations order or QDRO in order to obtain a distribution from a retirement plan. This is a judicial order that is usually drafted by a team with specialized experience and presented to the court for approval. The QDRO will include the terms of the division that is part of the divorce so that the retirement plan administrators will be authorized to distribute funds to someone other than the employee who earned the benefits. The process of obtaining the distribution can take considerable time. Afterward, the spouse receiving the distribution may need to have a plan to roll over all or part of the funds to avoid paying taxes on those funds immediately.

Because of the complexity in distribution and the potential tax issues, it is important to work with a divorce attorney who can provide the advice and assistance you need to avoid delays, penalties, and problems.

Holstrom, Block & Parke Protects Your Interest in Retirement Benefits in a California Divorce

The bottom line is that even with the “50/50” community property division laws in California, the process of dividing assets can be very complicated, and you can be stuck with an inequitable result if you are not careful. Advice and representation from an experienced divorce attorney can make all the difference both during and after the divorce process.

At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, our Certified Family Law Specialists and associates have over 300 years of collective experience helping clients reach the best outcomes in divorce and other family law challenges. Schedule a consultation with our team today to learn how we can protect your interests in retirement benefits and other aspects of your divorce.