Divorce Family Lawyer

Domestic Violence Happens to Both Men and Women

2010-07-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

In February of 2007, a pertinent issue was raised regarding domestic violence and applying the law equally to both men and women. The issue was raised when the law was primarily focused on women and didn’t really include men as much as it should. For instance, in the case Woods vs. California argued that they did not receive the protection they deserved when they sough it out from police officers and shelters. In this case the plaintiffs were not trying to receive damages for the unequal treatment. The plaintiffs simply wanted to bring attention to the issue of men and women not receiving the same protection from domestic violence, they are simply hoping for a change.

Do I need an Orange County divorce attorney?

2010-05-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

If you are unsure if you need a divorce attorney, ask yourself the following before you proceed on our own with the divorce proceedings:

1. Do I comprehend the forms that I need to file in order to proceed without a lawyer?

2. Do we have children?

3. Do we have large assets, pensions, 401(K)s and/or liabilities that need to be separated?

4. Is my spouse going to contest any portions of our divorce that may necessitate Court intervention and guidance?

5. Do I have any doubts about whether I am agreeing to do something that I'm not legally required to do or waiving something that I may be legally entitled to?

If you responded yes to any of the questions above, it is in your best interests to at the very least consult with a family law divorce attorney.

The following are common characteristics of a person who does not need an attorney to assist them in a divorce:

1. The parties have no children or sizeable assets that need to be separated and/or have already divided all of their assets and liabilities;

2. The person comprehends all of the divorce documents and is perfectly capable of filing them out without the assistance of a lawyer;

3. Not in a hurry and have no specific time line that they are looking for to finalize their divorce;

4. The funds that it would take to hire a lawyer is more than the value of the assets or debts the parties are contesting;

5. Alimony or child support is not at concern.

Michael Jackson custody agreement, estate issue go before judge

2009-08-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

A judge today will consider a custody agreement for Michael Jackson's children.

Under the proposed deal, Jackson's mother will retain custody of his three children while the mother of the two elder children will visit and maintain her legal parental rights.

Katherine Jackson, 79, the late pop icon's mother, and Deborah Rowe, 50, who bore Jackson's two older children, also agreed to mutually hire a child psychologist to advise them on how, when and where Rowe's visits should take place, lawyers for Jackson and Rowe said.

In his will, Jackson named his mother as his children's guardian. Singer Diana Ross was listed as an alternative choice should his mother be unable to care for the children. Rowe has not seen the children in several years and at one time relinquished her parental rights.

During a period when she had visitation, she complained that she was forced to meet the children in hotel rooms in the presence of Jackson’s associates and could not make up for visits she missed. Rowe met Jackson while working in the office of Dr. Arnold Klein, his Beverly Hills dermatologist.

Eric George, Rowe's attorney, said the discussions with the Jackson family's representatives "resulted in a dignified outcome." "The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children," George said. He added that he was "particularly proud of Deborah for her integrity and selflessness." Rowe did not ask for custody, nor did she seek or receive any money under the arrangement, lawyers said. Rowe will pay half of the fees for the child psychologist, the lawyers said.

Jackson and Rowe married in 1996 when she was six months' pregnant after being artificially inseminated. She is the mother of Prince Michael I, 12, and Paris Michael Katherine, 11.

Jackson's youngest child, Prince Michael II, 7, called Blanket, was borne by an unidentified surrogate. As the biological mother, Rowe had a legal claim to guardianship, but Katherine Jackson could have prevailed if she showed it was not in the children's best interest to be with Rowe.

The judge also is expected to address how much influence Katherine Jackson should have in her son's estate. After a brief period as temporary special administrator, she lost control when attorney John Branca and John McClain were named to oversee the estate.

Both men were named in Jackson's will as his choices to be executors.

-- Maura Dolan, Harriet Ryan and Victoria Kim