How do I calculate the length of our marriage?

There are two different dates to pay attention to when you calculate the length of your marriage.   

Are you trying to calculate the length of marriage for social security benefits or spousal military benefits?
For federal benefits, the date of marriage is measured from the date of marriage to the date of termination of status (the date your divorce decree is finalized).

Are you trying to calculate the length of marriage for spousal support and separate property?
California uses the date of separation as the date for the end of marriage to measure spousal support and the date on which all earnings become separate property.

Can you amend your Petition or Response?

 

Yes. Experienced family law attorneys in San Francisco Bay Area will tell their clients that you may amend your Petition once before the Response is filed as a matter of right under California Code of Civil Procedure 472.  If you wish to amend the Petition again, you must ask for leave of the Court. 

What are Financial Disclosures in Divorce?

What is a Declaration of Disclosure?
California divorce law is designed to protect the transparent exchange of financial information in a divorce.  Thus, both parties must exchange full financial disclosures before a divorce can be finalized.

Will my tax returns, pay stubs, and bank accounts be public record?
Generally, no.  California law requires that each party serve his or her declarations on the other party but that these declarations are not filed with the Court.  Family Code Section 2104.  While the declarations do not need to be filed, the Court does require a proof of service that the declarations have been exchanged. 

When do I need to give the other side my financial documents?
California law requires that parties exchange financial documents within 60 days of a Petition or Response. However, this requirement can be waived by mutual agreement of the Parties.

What is a defined benefit plan and why do I need a valuation?

A defined-benefit plan like a Pension does not always have a straightforward value in the same way as an IRA or 401(k).

Instead, a pension is a promise by the employer to pay the employee a certain amount of money in retirement based on a specific formula. In order to get a value and for it to be fairly considered in the overall asset division, it needs to be valued by a professional. 

I have never worked. Can I get Social Security?

Experienced family law attorneys in the Bay Area will tell you that you may be able to collect social security. If you have been married for 10 years or more and our spouse has worked during that time, than you are entitled to one-half of your spouse's Social Security or your own, whichever is higher – even if you are divorced.  Your spouse also retains 100% of their Social Security benefit.