Family Law
Family law is a legal practice area that focuses on issues involving family relationships, such as adoption, divorce, and child custody, among others. Woodman Garcia-Sepulveda Law represents clients in family court proceedings or in related negotiations in the State of California.

Changing Child Custody From Joint to Sole in California
If you’re looking to change your child’s custody situation, the first step is understanding the different aspects of child custody in California.
When do you know that divorce Is the right way to go?
No matter what the circumstances, divorce is a heartbreaking and traumatic experience for everyone involved. The decision to end your marriage is just as important as the one you made to enter into it, if not more so. So how do you know that you are making the right choice? In this article, we will look at five crucial questions to ask yourself. The first...
How Is Child Support Calculated for Affluent People? Let’s Find Out
Deciding custody and child support is undoubtedly the most important part of a divorce or separation for parents. Ordinarily, the California courts use a complicated formula to determine the appropriate level of child support. However, for high-income parents, this formula doesn’t always work. Table of Contents What Is “Affluent”? How Is Child Support...
Is COVID-19 Affecting Alimony Payments Laws in California?
Many people have had their lives turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses remain closed and people are out of work. You may have found yourself with a cut in your salary, or you may have lost your job. In addition to having difficulty paying your bills, you may find yourself unable to make your alimony payments. You may need to meet with an...
#1 Best Help Guide: Divorcing an Abusive Spouse
Divorcing an abusive spouse can be challenging for many reasons. The relationship is often very complicated and has an impact on you, your children, and the finances. Abusive spouses are usually very controlling, and they use their power to frighten you into staying. However, family courts are there to help. They take abuse seriously, and they will make...
What is a Power of Attorney?
Let's discuss in details What is a Power of Attorney, plus download free POA forms There are times when you may need for someone else to take care of certain legal matters for you, either because you’re temporarily incapacitated or you’re not physically in a certain location to sign documents and perform other legal duties. When this happens, you can...
What is a 730 Evaluation in California?
Whenever you’re in court for some reason, regardless of which side you’re on, the judge may request that a 730 evaluation take place. A 730 evaluation is completed by experts who are appointed by the court so that they are unbiased and objective. There are numerous reasons why they are requested or even required to take place and they are often required in...
10 Questions to Ask Your Divorce Attorney at Your First Meeting
Having the right divorce attorney will make you feel more confident Going through a divorce is never easy, but with the right divorce attorney, you’ll feel more confident about having the representation you need so that your wishes can be accommodated. After all, each side in a divorce situation needs someone who is representing them to the fullest so that...
The Three Types of Guardianship of a Minor: The Basics
If you’re in the middle of a divorce and you have children under the age of 18, chances are you and your spouse are those children’s legal guardians. In some cases, however, either temporary or even permanent guardianship of a minor child has to be provided, and when this happens, it’s good to know a little bit about each type. This is important because...
AMENDED Eighth Court Emergency Response Memo Order to Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
AMENDED Eighth Court Emergency Response Memo From Jonathan E. Karesh, Presiding Judge The COVID-19 crisis continues, with no end in sight. Because of COVID-19, this Court was forced to take definitive action on our provision of court services to the public. As a result, on March 16, 2020, the Court issued a “Second Amended Court’s Emergency Response to...
8 Tips for Having an Amicable Divorce
Going through a divorce is a difficult process, but if the divorce is amicable, that makes things a little easier to bear. The reasons for a divorce are as varied as the personalities of the individuals going through the process, and these factors can make having an amicable divorce difficult. But there are ways of ensuring the process goes smoother. Learn about your state’s divorce process...
Best California Child Support Guide
When going through a divorce, one of the most important sets of guidelines to understand are those related to child support. Child support guidelines in California are comprehensive and can be difficult to understand. The internet is full of articles that can easily synthesize these guidelines, and can also confuse you even further. Let’s dive in with this quick California Child Support...
Consequences of a domestic violence conviction in California
According to California’s domestic violence laws, it is a punishable crime to harm or threaten to harm a current or previous intimate partner. Statistically, the most commonly used penal code under California’s domestic violence law is Penal Code 243 Domestic Battery and Penal code 273.5, Inflicting corporal injury on an intimate partner. Let’s discuss the consequences of a...
New 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...
What are the Grandparents Visitation Rights in California
Grandparents’ visitation rights have a dedicated section in the California family code. While it’s up to the court to decide on each case, there are situations where the grandparents can petition for visitation rights with their grandchildren. When can Grandparents request visitation rights in California? In the California Family Code,...
Can 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...
Understand 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...
How 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...
Everything 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...