PERSONAL MATTERS.
PERSONALIZED APPROACH.
September 15 through October 15 marks Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. In San Diego, where vibrant Hispanic communities form the cultural and social fabric of our region, this...
A surrogacy dispute unfolding in Texas is drawing national attention—and highlighting just how complicated parentage can become when a surrogacy arrangement crosses state lines. The case involves California couple Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed and their gestational...
Britney Spears’ recent May 2026 legal battle—resulting in a misdemeanor DUI plea deal down to a “wet reckless” charge highlights a crucial intersection of substance use and parental custody rights under California law. While her immediate legal trouble centered around...
With the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup underway across North America, parents in Argentina and several other nations are discovering that skipping out on child support means missing the world's biggest party. In a striking intersection of sports culture and...
For years, federal law has allowed the government to deny passports to individuals who owe significant child support arrears. However, a recent announcement from the U.S. Department of State signals that the federal government is placing renewed emphasis on enforcing...
Intimate partner violence affects both straight and same-sex couples, though data shows rates are often comparable to or higher in queer relationships. Around 35.6% of women and 28.5% of men experience physical violence, rape, or stalking by an intimate partner in...
This blog addresses what a Register of Actions review can reliably establish in a California family law matter, and what it cannot. A Register of Actions is a clerk-maintained index-like docket that reflects the titles and dates of filings and proceedings in family...
What is venue, how to raise the issue, and what the court considers: When a parent files a case in the wrong county, the issue of venue arises, and the court's response depends on whether the defendant raises a timely objection and whether the venue is proper under...
Summer vacations are supposed to be exciting for families, but in co-parenting situations, last-minute travel requests can quickly create conflict. Every year, courts see an increase in emergency filings and custody disputes tied to vacation schedules, out-of-state...
The big picture: "Best interests" is not a slogan-it is a safety-first decision rule California custody and visitation decisions are driven by a single organizing principle: the child's health, safety, and welfare come first. Judges may value children having frequent...