by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaNew Calendar Memo Order from the 7th Court of San Mateo County in California on COVID-19
Amended Seventh Court of San Mateo County Emergency Response Calendar Memo Order to Novel Coronavirus Pandemic From: Jonathan E. Karesh, Presiding Judge The COVID-19 crisis continues, with no end in sight. In recent weeks the number of cases has been rising. Because of COVID-19, this Court was forced to take definitive action on our provision of court...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaCan a Child’s Preference Influence a Child Custody Case?
If you are currently undergoing court proceedings to determine the custody of a child, there are many factors the courts will examine when deciding the outcome. Other than the wellness and capability to provide for the child, a significant factor is the child’s parental preference, as long as there is no history of abuse or neglect. Although there are no...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaUnderstand Your Rights as a Non-Custodial Parent
Being in the position of a non-custodial parent can be difficult. Even though the other parent will have more influence over the decisions being made than the non-custodial parent, the non-custodial parent still has the right to see the child that cannot be overridden. They always have the right to be a part of the life of their child. If you are the...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaHow to help children cope with their parents’ divorce
Unfortunately, divorce in the US has become a regular part of life It is estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce in the US; however, just because it is a frequent occurrence does not mean it is not stressful for children. If parents have children and they file for divorce, it can be very frustrating to the children, even if...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaEverything You Need to Know About Alimony
Alimony can be stressful to think about during a divorce, more so for some than others. When Alimony is involved, a spouse’s financial status can overwhelm them if they’re on the lower end of it. But people should stress no more, this article will explain everything and how it affects divorce in California. What Is Alimony? Alimony is spousal support...by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaSan Mateo Superior Court implements remote appearances protocol
On Monday, May 26 the San Mateo Superior Court implemented remote appearances in several of their family law calendars. The Court will be expanding the use of remote appearances by way of Zoom Audio/Video conferencing to be used by our justice partners who would like to appear remotely for certain calendars and hearing types as follows: Courtroom 4A Tuesdays (excluding Tuesdays following a...
by Flora Garcia-Sepulveda6 Things You Should Know About a Business Valuation in a Divorce Case
Assets that are shared by a couple during their marriage, including a shared business, is subject to division when the marriage ends. There are six things you should know about business valuation in case of a divorce. 1. Where there’s a business, there’s valuation. If a business is owned,...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaCan a Father get Full Custody of His Child?
Attempting to get partial or full custody of a child can be both stressful and challenging. With numerous factors going into the decision, the most important one resides within the best interest of the child. Many people may tell you that a father has no chance in a custody battle, but that is simply untrue. This article will investigate the ways that any...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaDivorce Mediation Goes Virtual in San Mateo
What happens when “Til death do us part,” changes to, “We’re just not working out and can’t stay married anymore?” – Well, divorce happens. That may be a droll way of putting things, but statistically, 50% of marriages in the US will end up in divorce or separation. Going through a divorce is often one of the saddest and most stressful things that people...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaWhat are the 4 types of Power of Attorney?
Have you recently found yourself in a situation where you need a power of attorney? Perhaps you may not need it now, but foresee yourself needing one in the future. Whatever the case may be, a power of attorney is quite a significant piece of legal documentation that will allow a person, known as a principal, to appoint someone to act on their behalf if they become incapacitated. This person,...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaQuarantine How-to Guide for Parents Sharing Custody of a Child
Managing custody of a child can be challenging at the best of times. Add a global pandemic into the mix, and everything suddenly becomes much more complicated. As a parent sharing custody of a child, you’re sure to be wondering how you should be managing custody during the quarantine period, to uphold each parties’ custody obligations and...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaIs COVID-19 Sparking a Domestic Violence Pandemic?
The Coronavirus has forced entire countries the world over into states of complete lock-down in an attempt to terminate the rapid spread of the virus and uncontrollable mortality rates. However, the lock-down has some severe implications for those women who are living in abusive households. Complaints of domestic violence increased since the lock-down...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaNavigate Divorce Mediation during the Coronavirus Pandemic
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic is making life difficult, here is what you can do to navigate your Divorce Mediation case Seven Bay Area jurisdictions have issued a shelter in place order in an effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and limit its impacts on our community. As divorce can be difficult even in the best of times, you may...
by Flora Garcia-Sepulveda5 Reasons why parents may lose custody of their child
“How can you avoid losing custody of your child?” This question is entirely valid that you may be asking yourself, especially if you are in the middle of a custody battle with the child’s other parent. Protecting your child from your former partner through a custody battle can be emotionally draining. However, knowing what could cause a parent to lose...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaThe Ultimate Guide to Advance Directives and Power of Attorney
There may come a time in your life when you require medical attention or treatment, and you are unable to communicate with physicians coherently. As scary as this thought may be, it is essential to be proactive and prepare for this event with a Living Will, Advance Directives and a Power of Attorney. There are two documents that you will need to complete....
by Edward SepulvedaInheritance Law and Your Rights in California
Many people do not take the time to learn about Inheritance Law or to write wills and testaments. The unfortunate result is that many individuals pass away without having ever written one. What happens to their property in that case? In this article, you will find information about inheritance law in California and other states. Such laws govern the legal...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaTemporary vs. Testamentary Guardianship: What’s the Difference?
Temporary and Testamentary Guardianship are the two primary forms of guardianship. A legal guardian is someone appointed by the court to make legal decisions for another person who is not capable of making decisions for him or herself based on their status as a minor (under the age of 18), or severe physical or mental disability. In this article, you will...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaGuardianship of Incapacitated or Disabled Persons
We rarely think of the notion of guardianship when reflecting on decisions we need to make regarding our lives. Often, we have plans for our health, accidental care, disability, investments, and insolvency, but rarely do we look at the need to have a guardian in place to manage the above if we become unable to do so ourselves. Traditionally, this sort of...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaStep-by-Step Guide to Establishing a Guardianship of a Child
There’s a lot to consider when you take on the legal guardian of a child. In California, a guardian is a person other than a child’s biological parent who accepts legal responsibility for a child. We’ve provided some essential information to help guide you step-by-step through the process of establishing a guardianship of a child. There are many...
by Edward Sepulveda