Westlake Village California Family Law Blog

Perhaps you and your spouse have mutually decided that your marriage is no longer sustainable. Perhaps you've also agreed that you do not wish to become entangled in any type of long, drawn out court process in order to obtain a settlement. You'd both really like to just discuss the issues that need discussing and come up with a plan that is best for all involved. California divorce mediation may be a viable option in your situation.

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution option for those who are able to peacefully negotiate their property division, child custody and alimony issues. The court must approve any plan you devise; however, you and your spouse are free to write the terms of your own settlement. Mediation is generally the least expensive means of obtaining a divorce. 

Current data suggests as many as six out of 10 parents who are ordered by the court to receive child support to provide for their children's needs are not receiving full payments, as scheduled. Many California parents get a portion of an ordered amount, and some report that they get nothing at all. A research organization that is conducting behavioral science studies has come up with a plan that it believes may not only prompt many parents to bring their child support accounts into good standing but may also help improve their relationships with their children.  

Officials in another state who have been participating in the project find that, by changing the way they communicate with parents ordered to pay child support, they are witnessing positive results. For instance, they try to treat paying parents as customers rather than people who owe a debt. They also send reminders regarding upcoming scheduled meetings. One parent remarked that it was refreshing to be spoken to like a human being.  

Whether you are going through a divorce or you never married your child's other parent, you are not looking forward to a custody battle. Naturally, you hope to gain as much time as possible with your child, and you expect you and your partner will agree on joint physical custody.

Sharing physical custody is not the same as having legal custody. With shared legal custody, you have an equal say in the major decisions in your child's life, such as education, religious upbringing and health care matters. If you and your partner can work together peaceably, sharing legal custody may be good for your child. However, joint physical custody is not always in the child's best interest.

When a California resident is thinking about buying a house, he or she should expect that, at some point, a review of his or her credit report will take place. Various issues can negatively affect a credit report, including being behind on child support payments. This acts as a derogatory credit event that can, under certain circumstances, impede the ability to purchase a home.  

The type of loan one is pursuing may be a factor in whether or not a child support issue will have a negative impact on a home purchase. If one seeks to obtain a government-backed loan, there is a definite possibility that not paying child support that is owed will prevent loan approval. It is critical to determine whether one can afford a prospective mortgage in conjunction with owed child support and other financial debts.