Family Law
Learn about Marriage, adoption, divorce, and child custody and how our State Laws affect these.
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.
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaConsequences 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...
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-SepulvedaWhat are the Grandparents Visitation Rights in California
As a Disclaimer: Woodman Garcia-Sepulveda Law has suspended offering guardianship services. This article is left online solely for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for guidance regarding your specific situation. Grandparents’ visitation rights have a dedicated section in the...
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 during...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 Divorce Cases
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 Divorce Cases. 1. Where there’s a business, there’s valuation. If a business is owned, you can expect a...
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
Divorce does not automatically cancel the Affidavit of Support. Learn how Form I-864 obligations can continue after separation and what sponsoring spouses should know. When Immigration Sponsorship and Divorce Collide Many couples assume that once a marriage ends, all financial ties disappear. In reality, immigration sponsorship can create...
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 be...
by Flora Garcia-Sepulveda5 Reasons why a parent may lose custody of a child
“How can a parent may lose custody of a 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 custody...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaTemporary vs. Testamentary Guardianship: What’s the Difference?
As a Disclaimer: Woodman Garcia-Sepulveda Law has suspended offering guardianship services. This article is left online solely for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for guidance regarding your specific situation. Temporary and Testamentary Guardianship are the two primary forms of...
by Flora Garcia-SepulvedaGuardianship of Incapacitated or Disabled Persons
As a Disclaimer: Woodman Garcia-Sepulveda Law has suspended offering guardianship services. This article is left online solely for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for guidance regarding your specific situation. We rarely think of the notion of guardianship when reflecting on decisions we...
by Flora Garcia-Sepulveda4 Steps to Establishing a Guardianship of a Minor
There’s a lot to consider when you take on guardianship of a minor. Click here to learn more about how to become the legal guardian of a child.
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