Westlake Village California Family Law Blog

You might be one of many California parents who line your kids up in front of the house to take pictures on the first day of school. If you have kids of different ages, you might find that some are more accommodating than others regarding your little family tradition. The fact is, traditions, routine and daily structure in a child's life are valuable tools that help most kids thrive.

If you filed for divorce this past summer, such things may be especially helpful as you and your children cope with the situation and move on in life. The back-to-school season is typically a time of adjustment, whether you and your spouse live under the same roof or are navigating your first school year as post-divorce co-parents. If the latter is the case, building a strong support network from the start is a key factor that will help everyone involved adapt to a new lifestyle.

Just as in any year, there will be quite a few California parents that file for divorce in 2019. Chances are, many such cases will also involve child support. Questions may arise regarding what court-ordered payments are intended for insofar as financially providing for children is concerned.

Some people mistakenly believe that child support monies must only be used to provide basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. The fact is there are many other types of expenses that it would be perfectly acceptable to use child support money to cover. For instance, if a custodial parent must go to work outside the home, thereby creating a need to place the children in day care, monthly support payments can help cover child care costs.

When California parents decide to divorce, they have to resolve numerous issues concerning their children's futures. Where their kids will live is often the first, most basic concern. Beyond that, how complex or simple the divorce process is depends on the details of a specific couple's situation. If child support is an issue, it may be possible to avoid litigation. Doing so requires a willingness on both sides to cooperate and compromise, as needed.

Parents can make their own agreement. However, it will be subject to court approval. Getting the court involved may the easiest way to avoid serious legal problems down the line if a disagreement happens to arise.

It is understandable that a California parent wants to avoid going to court when trying to resolve child-related issues in divorce. Many times, divorce mediation can be used to help co-parents achieve amicable and fair agreements regarding child custody, visitation or other matters. Mediation is definitely not for everyone, so it pays to speak to someone well-versed on such issues to help determine if it is a viable option in a given set of circumstances.

Establishing a co-parenting agreement out of court requires a willingness to cooperate and compromise as parenting partners. Getting the court's approval to proposed terms means the agreement in question would be legally binding and enforceable. A mediated agreement may address many issues beyond the physical residence of children, such as eating habits, religious practices, bed times and more.